THE third of four qualifiers for the Connemara section at Balmoral Show (May 13th to 16th) was staged last Sunday by the Irish Pony Society Western Area, in conjunction with their Spring Show at Duffy’s Equestrian.
Jane Somerville, who judged all five competitive classes in changing weather, faced her largest field in the workers’ qualifier for riders aged 16 and upwards. Here, having amassed 96 marks, Sadhbh O’Connor qualified in first with the 12-year-old Hawthorn Lass (Caherlistrane Sammy - Cove Heather, by Lissduff Rebel).
“I ride this mare for her owner Peter Duggan and did a couple of shows with her towards the end of last year,” revealed Co Kildare-based O’Connor. “The plan this year was to qualify for Balmoral, as I’ve never jumped around there before and it’s always been an aim of mine!”
On 95 marks, Fai Mai Guinan finished second with Fiona Donohue’s six-year-old grey mare Casanova’s Charleville (Cahanagh’s Casanova - Charleville Daffodil, by Oisin Aerach). This combination amassed 30 Show Jumping Ireland points last season. Also awarded 95 marks, but finishing third, was the vastly-experienced 18-year-old gelding Creganna Dandini (Cashelbay Prince - Prospect Suzy, by Tulira Robuck), who was ridden by Jane Field for her mother Marjorie Hardiman, breeder of the grey.
https://foto.ifj.ie/fotoweb/archives/5006-Irish-Horse-World/Irish%20Horse%20World/2020/2-IMG_0269.JPG.info#c=%2Ffotoweb%2Farchives%2F5006-Irish-Horse-World%2F%3Fq%3Dfai%2520mai%2520guinan
Casanovas Charleville and Fai Mai Guinan, pictured with with presenting Judge Jane Somerville at Duffys, were second in the WH qualifier for over 16s \ Alan Leonard
Also qualifying by right were Lauren Kerins with her 14-year-old Dunally Lad gelding Lankill Lad (94), Roisin Cahill with the 10-year-old Tulira Robuck mare Robucks Trixie (93) and Niamh Ruane with her 10-year-old Silver Shadow gelding Clonberne Moon Light (92). As per the rules, two combinations were named as reserves.
Younger riders
In the class for riders aged 10 to 16, Maya Von Moll comfortably topped Somerville’s final leaderboard with 96 marks on Lucy Osborne’s eight-year-old grey gelding Tousist King (Plume de Kezeg - Princess Menlo, by Coolillaun Cushlawn), who was bred in Co Kerry by John O’Sullivan.
This combination qualified for the Connemara performance classes at both Balmoral and Dublin last year, finishing second in their class at the former venue to the section champions, Amira Curran and Caherpuca Chappy. They also competed at the Connolly’s Red Mills/Irish Pony Club national eventing championships at Tatteralls Ireland, where they were members of the Wicklow Warriors squad who won the Junior team title, individually placing second in their arena.
Keris Mae O’Toole picked up 92 marks to claim the runner-up spot with her father Tomas’s Forest Buddy (Fiona’s Man - April Misty, by Corrib Prince). O’Toole and the 13-year-old grey gelding qualified for the Intermediate combined training championship at the RDS last August where O’Toole, a member of the Galway Mid Country Branch, represented Area 8.
A point adrift, Brooke Kenny once again qualified for Balmoral with her father Graham’s seven-year-old grey gelding Cupid’s Magic Shadow (Silver Shadow - Meadowhill Magic Melody, by Drymills Bridgeboy), with whom she finished fifth in the final last May.
This combination competed four times under Eventing Ireland rules last season, rounding off their campaign by winning the EI90 (P) national championship at Barnadown in early October.