THE first of four qualifiers for the junior equitation section at the Dublin Horse Show was held last Sunday at Mullingar Equestrian where leading show horse rider and producer Jane Bradbury assessed the performance of the riders in the two classes.

In that for riders who had attained their 12th birthday but not their 17th by January 1st this year and for ponies exceeding 138cms but not exceeding 153cms, 91 combinations came before Bradbury, a dozen of whom failed to complete over the 1m track. A set course plan is used at each of the qualifiers.

Topping the final leaderboard on a score of 101.5 marks (out of 120) was west Cork’s Grace Wycherley riding her mother Jenifer’s Connemara gelding Dromleigh Lad (Robe Thunder – Ardwholihane Sarah, by Woodfield Sammy). Grace, who turned 14 last month, is a member of the West Carbery Branch of the Irish Pony Club (she passed her C+ test earlier this year) and also plays Gaelic.

“We brought Dromleigh Lad as a youngster and Grace’s eldest brother used to compete him at local shows,” revealed Jenifer of the Connie Manning-bred winner.

“Grace started competing him when she was 12 and qualified him for the RDS equitation (finishing sixth) and working hunter sections in 2025. Plans for this year include the RDS working hunter qualifiers and then moving him up in higher grade SJI competitions. He placed second and third in the first PSL qualifier earlier this year in the 148cms 1m and 148cms 1.10m respectively.”

Riding for her mother Geraldine, north Co Dublin’s Chloe Dempsey qualified in second (99) with the nine-year-old Connemara gelding Carnhill Stormy Boy. Dempsey and the grey son of Dunloughan Scot finished second in the final at Dublin last August to the section champions Ellie Rogan and Tullaree Fear Buí.

Ward Union Pony Club member Demi Wildman booked her ticket for the Simmonscourt decider when placing third (94) with her mother Donna’s Corbeagh Mirah. Wildman and the 19-year-old Westside Mirah gelding will be heading to Balmoral Show next week having qualified for the young riders’ class in the Connemara working hunter section.

The final qualifying ticket was bagged by Shauna McLaughlin who scored 93.5 for her round on her father Fergal’s British-bred Penumbria Glamboy, a 10-year-old Welsh gelding by Dylasau Moonlight Gigolo.

Seven combinations failed to complete in the 42-strong 90cms qualifier for ponies not exceeding 138cms and for riders who had attained their 10th birthday but not their 14th by January 1st.

Lucy Kent took the first qualifying spot here with the Connemara mare Dun Queen (Tullineaskey Sam – Mincloon Queen, by Captain Sparrow) on whom she finished fifth in the final last August. Kent was awarded a score of 97 for her round on the six-year-old dun who is owned in partnership with Alisha Corrigan and was bred in Co Waterford by Roger McCarthy.

Mia Grey O’Leary finished just a point adrift in second with her mother Camilla’s 12-year-old mare Castlegannon Tara; having placed third (94), The Curragh’s Milly Draper is due to return to Simmonscourt in August with her parents’ 10-year-old Connemara mare Glenmore Acrobatique, a daughter of Funambule on whom she finished sixth last year; and George Kelly booked the fourth and last ticket with Laura Clarke Geraghty’s six-year-old chesnut mare Miss Lexi (93).

Full details regarding the remaining three qualifiers, and the judging criteria, can be found on the Dublin Horse Show website. Online entry for the qualifiers is available via www.sjilive.ie.