THE third of four qualifiers for the Junior Equitation classes at the Gallagher Dublin Horse Show was held last Saturday at Maryville Stables, where 34 combinations appeared before the series judge, Jane Bradbury, in the class for ponies not exceeding 138cm.

Also confined to riders who have attained their 10th birthday but not their 14th by January 1st this year, Sunday’s class was won by Co Meath’s Elizabeth Ryan, who amassed 99 marks on board the Connemara gelding Brownsgrove Star (Lydican Johnny - Kilgarvan Mist, by Kingstown Boy), who was bred by Brendan Nestor.

The seven-year-old bay is owned by Garreth Ryan, who explained how he was spending Fathers’ Day in Co Cork with his 11-year-old daughter, while his wife Sarah remained at home with their two younger children, waiting on a ‘phone call after each round of jumping.

“We came down yesterday for the 138cm six and seven-year-old qualifier, where they finished 11th out of 40, then stayed overnight to jump in the equitation class. Elizabeth has done a bit of everything with this pony. She is a member of the Meath Pony Club, hunted him with the Meaths over the winter and competed in the Sports Pony Challenge. She is coached every Thursday at Emerald by Jim Donohoe.

Obsessed

“Elizabeth is obsessed with horses and ponies and has her own YouTube channel, where you can follow her progress. When not riding, she can often be found at the National Aquatic Centre, as she is also a very keen swimmer.

“I had very little interest in horses and ponies myself until Elizabeth started, but I began riding over a year ago and even hunted over the winter. Late last year, I began jumping my own horse Wicked Norton de la Vie Z. The family are now looking forward to Elizabeth competing for the first time at Dublin and we are heading to Cavan on Sunday to see if she can also qualify for the six and seven-year-old class.”

On a score of 97, Ruth Cregan qualified in second on the eight-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Carrageen Frankie, a dun son of Anbally Frankie, who was having his first start in SJI-affiliated company having previously competed in IPC activities, while Maisie Murphy finished third on 96.1 with the 11-year-old grey mare LDE My Girl.

Having bagged a ticket in fourth (96 marks) with the Irish Sport Pony mare Goldengrove Roslyn, a five-year-old by Wycroft Rainbow Dancer, Co Wexford’s Gracie Murphy has now qualified five ponies for Dublin. Six of the 34 starters were eliminated.