THE pressure was on pony riders, children on horses and young riders, as they travelled to Mullingar last weekend in the hope of securing their tickets to the Dublin Horse Show.

First up were 62 hopefuls in the 148cm category, with seven places up for grabs. Taking the win was Leinster’s Susan Brannigan with the eight-year-old Imagine D’Argent, when they were quickest of four double clears in the 17-way jump-off. Resident rider Ted Fagan added to his impressive record when he took the runner-up spot with Ballyfore Rosie, when he came home in a time of 35.79. Less than a second separated the next placing, as James Cleary and Milchem Original came home in 36.77. Connaught’s Zara Sharkey and Iflex took fourth when they stopped the clock in 36.96, while in fifth was fellow Connaught rider, Cathal McKeon Devaney and Nokio, who had one on the ground in a very fast time of 33.56. Chantal Whitehead also had a pole on the ground with Alonsa, but in a slower time of 33.86, while in seventh was Lucia Keane and Rdjw Merclov, who finished on four faults in 34.22.

148cm six and seven -year-olds

The 148cm six/seven-year-olds class proved very competitive over three rounds, but in the end, it was Munster’s Sam Widger who claimed the first ticket. Riding the six-year-old Poynstown Son Of a Mustang, he lodged the winning round in a time of 36.53. Sam Donovan and Happy Hooker STS (7yo) took the runner-up place, when they came home with nothing to add in 39.94, ahead of Ellen Ryan and Cuckoo Of Farmhill (6yo), clear in 40.26. Fourth place belonged to Zara Sharkey and Jubilee De Nev (7yo), when they kept all the poles in place in 41.88, ahead of Eimhin Kellett and Castlecor Cornet (6yo), clear in 42.21. Filling the last of the tickets spots, was Bobby Bowe and Grantstown Mini (6yo) in a time of 42.65.

138cm

In the 138cm division, 67 went to post and again seven places were up for the taking. This was a competitive class, which was decided over three rounds. Leading the victory lap was Munster’s Lucia Keane and Knud Van Orchid’s, when they delivered a triple clear in 35.19. She was chased home by last year’s 128cm Champion Ben O’Connor and Tesla Van Het Klavertje, who left everything standing in a time of 40.84. Jack Dore and Farone Des Islots also left all the poles in place, albeit in a time of 42.02 for third. Daniel McKeon-Devaney and Cornhill Snowey accounted for fourth place, with a clear in 43.32. Ruby Kelly will be making her return to the RDS, having claimed fifth with RWS It’s the Game Changer with a clear in 43.99, while in sixth was Katelyn Horgan and Cantum De Beaulieu, who finished as fastest of the four-faulters in 39.61. Blathnaid Murphy also had a pole down in the third round with Orchid’s Serata, but a fast time of 42.03 saw them take seventh place.

128cm

The 128cm division attracted a large entry, with 74 battling it out over three rounds for seven tickets. Taking the first ticket was Connaught’s Lillie Cash and JSB Hidden Secret, when they were fastest of nine triple clears in 36.11. Eva Carey and Puddles The Pony slotted into second, when they galloped home in 37.21, ahead of Harvey Oscar Foley and the very famous The Silver Legend, in a time of 37.86. Accounting for fourth place was Josh Fitzgerald and the eight-year-old Inchala Du Roudoutous, when they clocked 38.11, while in fifth was Isla McKinty and Knockash Lady Bird, in a time of 38.52. Rounding off the top six was Rory McBride and Creevelea Fire Fox, in a time of 38.62. Last year’s runner-up, Hes a Touch of Magic, will return to the RDS in the very capable hands of Gwendolyn Bradford, when they came home in a time of 39.64.

128cm six/seven-year-olds

In the 128cm aged class, a total of 32 went to post for just three places that were up for grabs. Sharing the win on a total of 159 points was Matthew Roche with the six-year-old Fudge and Georgia Foley and the seven-year-old Carlton Abi. Third place was won by Evelina O’Keefe and the seven-year-old, Hop It Pop It on a final score of 151.

138cm six/seven-year-olds

This decider saw 46 go to post and leading this victory lap on 160 points was Daniel McKeon-Devaney on the six-year-old, She’s a Pleasure. It was a close call between the placings, as Lauren McGrath and Colorado Springs (7yo) was awarded 158 points. Third place went to Ulster rider, Chloe Clarke and Brummerhoeve’S Salomon H (7yo), when they were awarded 157 points.