AREA 7 of the Irish Pony Club staged a Connolly’s Red Mills eventing championships qualifier last Saturday at Killossery Lodge Stud where, in all but one of the seven classes, victory went to those who completed on their winning dressage scores.

The Wicklow Branch recorded a double which was initiated in the 24-runner Intermediate by Sorcha Vickers on the 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Interface (26.75 penalties) and brought up in Section C of the Junior class by Laragh Molloy who was left in front on the 16-year-old mare HB Miss Kizzy (24.25) following the elimination of the early leader.

The Meaths also landed a brace of wins, Sophie May Nolan making all on board the six-year-old traditionally-bred Irish Sport Horse gelding Mighty Brave (31.25) to win the 19-runner Intro Intermediate with Kate Sharkey doing likewise in the 21-strong Under 12s class riding the 20-year-old chesnut gelding Crimson And Clover (25.75).

The winners of the three other Junior classes were the Ward Union’s Alessia Hayes on the eight-year-old Connemara mare Tullowcussane Anna (28 penalties in Section A), Newcastle Lyons’s Lucy Ferris with the 15-year-old Connemara mare Duncarbery Cascade (28 in Section B) while the very much in-form Carlow member Emily Flavin-Redmond won Section D on the remarkable score of 15.5 penalties with yet another Connemara, the seven-year-old gelding Ballyerk Paulo.

There are two more chances to qualify for the Connolly’s Red Mills/IPC eventing championships this weekend with the Laois Branch running at Stradbally Hall today while the Co Limerick Branch is holding their qualifier tomorrow at Ballycahane.