THERE were large entries for the three ridden Connemara classes at Tullylish last Saturday, when the first qualifier for the ridden Connemara, performance hunter Connemara and performance Irish Draught championships at the Dublin Horse Show was held in conjunction with the Young Event Horse series.

Forty ponies were listed to start in the four and five-year-old class, where three of the five who qualified by right (one reserve combination was identified in each class) were foaled in 2022.

This trio included Clooniereen Maura (Glencarrig Knight - Rineen Ceolin, by Oisin), who topped the line-up of judges Jane Somerville (ride) and Valerie Davis (conformation).

Previously successful

Ridden by Carrickfergus’s Charlotte Smiley, under whom she was a winner already this season, the grey mare was previously successful in youngstock classes.

She was bred in Co Clare by Dolores Murphy and was purchased at the May Connemara Pony Sale in Clifden last year by Padraic and Nicola Heanue. She looks a good buy at €3,800.

Smiley contested the six-year-old and upwards class for riders over 17 on last August’s four and five-year-old class winner who went champion, Eastlands Jollybrae.

However, here, she had to settle for third on the Scottish-bred gelding, immediately behind Sadhbh O’Connor and Teach Mór Sparrow.

The winning rider was Aimee Stunt on the Dublin fourth, the nine-year-old Skellorn Monarch gelding Skellorn Super Ted (Slackport Prince - Kieta, by Ruaille Buaille Bui), who was bred in Britain by Kerry Wainwright.

The grey’s owner, Emma Walsh, finished fourth on her 2020 Dunloughan Troy gelding Emlaughmore Mistro.

The class for riders aged between 10 and 17 was won by south Co Dublin’s Dahlia Durkan riding her grandfather William’s 14-year-old grey gelding Blakehill Bobby (Cnocbán Cassanova - Blakehill Princess, by Rebel Star).

The combination of Durkan and Blakehill Bobby previously qualified for Dublin at Tullylish last year, and went on to finish third, behind Ellie Rogan on Tullaree Fear Bui (who is now in England) and Amira Curran and Caherpuca Chappy (sixth on Saturday).