THERE were some close results at the third of the RDS Connemara performance hunter qualifiers at Orchard Lodge last Saturday, particularly so in Section B of the eight to 15-year-old class where two combinations completed on a score of 240.5 points and bagged the two tickets on offer.
Returning yet again to the Ballsbridge showgrounds where he finished third last year under Lisa Murphy is Eimear Murphy’s Doire Mhainaigh Robbie who, on Saturday, qualified under Leanne Murphy. This 14-year-old grey gelding by Cashelbay Cruise, who jumped up to 1.20m last season in the hands of his owner, was bred in Co Mayo by Michael O’Neill out of Doire Mhanaigh Pride (by Andy’s Pride).
Sharing the honours was Tawnagh Lad who was ridden for Dara Cooke by her niece Elizabeth Cooke, an active member of the North Kilkenny Branch of the Irish Pony Club.
This combination won the open working hunter championship at Balmoral Show after which they were members of the large IPC squad who travelled to England for the Tetrathlon Junior home international where they were on the winning Ireland White team in the regional competition. Four of the 17 starters failed to complete.
In Section A, Emma Keogh recorded a narrow victory on Liz Power’s Kilshanny Robert (242 points), who was sixth in the final last August, second in 2023 and third 12 months earlier to the above-mentioned Doire Mhainaigh Robbie. The now 13-year-old grey son of Cashelbay Prince was bred in Co Clare by Fergus and Donnacha Curtain out of Garvagh Countess (by Earl Of Castlefrench).
Toby Lambe qualified in second with Sophie Countess van Maltzan’s eight-year-old Silver Shadow stallion Bettyspark Shadow (241.5). Here, four combinations also failed to complete.
Good news
In Section A of the five to seven-year-old class, both Pauline Dahill and Star In The Night (246.5) and Edie Murray Hayden with Carraroe Coiin (243) were previously qualified which was good news for both Nadine Dunne and Charlotte Harding who completed on 236.5 points apiece on two five-year-old geldings.
Young Co Meath rider Dunne qualified on board her grandmother Rita Dunne’s Westonhouse Straboe Bobby dun Cahergal Theo while Co Antrim’s Harding did so with Muckrim Niall. This son of Rusheen Boy is owned by Adrienne Stuart who thus had extra reason to celebrate on Saturday night as she and family marked Gransha’s 40th anniversary (see page 91).
Out of 35 starters, 11 didn’t finish in Section A while five of 35 failed to complete in Section B. Here, there was a clear-cut winner in the Graham Kenny-owned, Brooke Kenny-ridden Cupid’s Magic Shadow (239.5). This six-year-old grey by Silver Shadow, who also qualified for Dublin last year, was bred in Co Mayo by Noel Shally out of the Drymills Bridgeboy mare Meadowhill Magic Melody.
Maya von Moll qualified in second with Lucy Osborne’s seven-year-old Plume de Kezeg gelding Tousist King (233.5).