THERE was an 8am start to the first of the RDS working hunter pony qualifiers held at the Banner Equestrian Centre last Saturday and, little wonder, as 46 combinations came before judges Denise Colebrooke (jumping) and Sharon Fitton in the opening starter stakes.

Here, Co Tipperary’s Judy O’Donnell claimed the honours on her mother Trish’s Connemara mare Cluainin Spring Johnson, an eight-year-old daughter of Robe Johnson. The grey qualified for the 133cms class last August for the Hughes family of Sixmilebridge from whom she was purchased in September.

“I’m delighted as this was just their second show together,” said the owner whose 13-year-old daughter Ellie filled the runner-up slot in the 143cms class on Ballyhone Toby. “This was just their second show together following their win in the starter stakes championship at Kilbride. They should have done a bit more but the mare was on the easy list for a month. Judy, who is coached by our neighbours Charlotte Hatton and Luke Coen, loves schooling the mare on the flat but likes her jumping as well. She is a lovely pony with loads of scope.

“We will bring both ponies to Killossery Lodge Stud to get their full qualifications. My third daughter Clara didn’t ride on Saturday but she has already had a great start to her season winning the mini working hunter pony championship on Rhydyfelin Count Down at Balmoral on our first ever visit to that show.”

Comprehensive

There were 37 starters in the 153cms qualifier where dual-purpose rider David Kiely recorded a most comprehensive success on board Yvonne Murphy’s six-year-old Dutch-bred stallion Kyano Van Orchids who Finbarr Hanafin competed in the 148cms six and seven-year-old RDS show jumping qualifier at Cavan last month.