MARY Moore and Rachel Bennett judged the three Gallagher Dublin Horse Show ridden Connemara qualifying classes on Saturday at Forth Mountain where, as at Tullylish and Scarteen, no male rider secured a ticket. Then, again, very few competed.

The opening young riders’ qualifier saw Lyla Vile top the line-up on Emma Walsh’s Skellorn Superted (Skellorn Monarch - Kieta, by Ruaille Buaille Bui).

The nine-year-old British-bred gelding finished fourth at Dublin last August under his owner in the older riders’ class, for which he has also qualified this season in the hands of Aimee Stunt.

The others who secured a ticket in second to fifth place were Aisling Malone on her mother Grainne’s seven-year-old Barravalley Jack gelding Barravalley Bailey, Mia McAreavey with Black Rose, an 11-year-old mare by Killaloe Fear Donn, Ella Deegan on her own seven-year-old Barana Dexter Boy gelding Rocklawn Kentucky and Amber Lane riding her mother Rachel’s nine-year-old Blakehill Ballylee Storm gelding Blakehill Ella.

Qualifier

There was a marginally higher entry (36 to 34) for the four and five-year-old qualifier, which was won by Killea Oir (Killea Island - Ashbrook Beaut, by Glencarrig Prince), who was ridden for Bryan Dagg by west of Ireland-based equine dental technician, Sabrina McClumpha.

This Eugene Killalea-bred dun gelding was the highest-placed four-year-old when fourth in his ridden Connemara class at Balmoral.

The remaining tickets were bagged by Sadhbh O’Connor with her mother Aoife’s five-year-old Glencarrig Knight gelding Doonreaghan Rob, by Grace Murphy on her own Addrigoole Lorenzo, a four-year-old gelded son of Manor Duke, by Charlotte Mangan on her own four-year-old Aniar Cashel mare Clonboo Cara and by Kate Lawlor riding her father Brendan’s five-year-old Moonlight Silver Shadow mare Castletown Shade.

Line-up

Locally-based Kate Rath Doyle topped the final line-up in the six-year-old and upwards class for riders over 17 with her own Maggies Ranger (Drumbad Fletcher Moss - Queen Lady Green, by Currachmore Cashel). This seven-year-old gelding, who was bred in Co Mayo by Joseph O’Malley, qualified for the younger ponies’ class at Dublin in 2024. Last August, the pair won the six to eight-year-old ridden class at Clifden.

The in-form Chloe Lacey qualified in second with Emma O’Gorman Wall’s seven-year-old Cregduff Ranger, another gelding by Drumbad Fletcher Moss.

Third to fifth places were filled by Lucinda Kelly on her mother Avril’s 12-year-old Cashelbay Chip mare Kinamara Laura, by Ciara Evans on her own nine-year-old Newgrange Brady (by Innellan Phoenix) and by Lesley Jones on Emily McGowan’s seven-year-old Lightening Star gelding Derrylackey Playboy.