LATE coming to the party this year, Evie Kennedy is set to defend her RDS working hunter pony championship title on Little Dromin Phoenix having won the final 143cm qualifier at Barnadown on Wednesday.

While the numbers in all but the 133cm class remained high, they were down on the previous two qualifiers at The Meadows and Killossery Lodge Stud. As one would expect at this stage, there were very few eliminations over the Charles Hanley-designed track where the jumping performance was judged by Gill Glynn before ponies moved on to the flat phase judged by Simon Beirne.

These Dublin qualifiers were run in conjunction with the Irish Pony Society whose secretary, Pat Walsh, commented: “The IPS, together with the RDS, would like to thank all of those who attended the qualifiers. The standard was certainly higher than last year and those who attained those coveted spots are to be congratulated.”

During an excellent 2024 season, Co Tipperary rider Kennedy not only won at Dublin but saw out the campaign on her mother Maeve’s Connemara gelding by landing the 143cm working hunter pony class at the Horse of the Year Show in October.

Early on this season, the pair were crowned champions at the IPS Sports Pony Challenge in April and the following month stood reserve in the working hunter pony championship at Balmoral.

That was meant to be that as Evie wanted to concentrate on dressage on the Spanish-bred gelding Cordobes XXXVI with whom she has already made two trips out of the country. However, the 15-year-old was called back into action with Little Dromin Phoenix when his intended partner for the remainder of the season, her young brother Andy (13), broke his shoulder playing hurling.

The reunited combination finished 11th at Killossery Lodge Stud and then qualified with their win on Wednesday on a score of 87 points.

Brooke Kenny finished second on the former Grade A 138cm pony Ravensdale Rossi (84.5) with Claudia O’Neill best of the rest with the Connemara gelding Peggy Sue Lue (84). Beautifully turned-out as always, Little Dromin Phoenix is by Lettermuckoo Lad and was bred by Vera Griffin out of the Dolan Mick mare Ballindoon Dolan Sparrow.

Kennedy, who continues to be coached by Vitaliy Halstyan, will have a second mount at Dublin having qualified at Orchard Lodge for the young riders’ flat Connemara final on the 15-year-old Blackwoodland Breeze. The pair had a brilliant day at Charleville Show last weekend, winning three championships before rounding off their visit by standing reserve supreme.

Former winner

Another former winner returning to the Ballsbridge showgrounds is the Irish Sport Horse mare Country Strong who, on 87 points, won Wednesday’s 158cm class under her partner for some years now, Lily Nadir.

The 2011 bay by Mermus R, who was bred by Stephanie Heffernan out of the Ekstein mare Ballycullen Dream, first came to the attention of Dublin showing fans when, under the name Park Avenue, she was reserve champion riding horse in 2015 when partnered and produced by P.J. Casey. As well as competing in working hunter classes, Country Strong did a lot of affiliated show jumping with Rachel Moore until Nadir took over the ride in 2021.

Nadir has continued to show jump Country Strong while also competing with her in working hunter classes both here and in Britain.

Co Meath’s Carla Williamson finished second on her mother Janet’s ISH gelding Powers (84), a seven-year-old son of Colandro on whom she has also qualified for the Junior/Young Rider event horse class at Dublin. Bray Pony Club member Lucas Aveling finished third on the ISH mare The Minx (81.5), a 12-year-old brown daughter of Emperor Augustus.

As with all other classes at Barnadown, the top five here secured a golden qualifying ticket.