LAST Saturday, Glenn Farrell Walker judged both sections of the Balmoral Show Connemara pony qualifier staged at Hazeldene Farm, where he found the standard to be high. The Kells, Co Meath-based producer of both horses and ponies started in the morning with the two working hunter qualifiers and commented: “I thought there were a lot of very good jumpers so, in awarding my marks, I went for those ponies who were as true to Connemara type as much as possible.”

Farrell-Walker found his winner of the opening class for riders up to the age of 16 very early on, as this was the first-to-go combination of Lily Maloney, a member of the Co Wicklow Branch of the Irish Pony Club, with her father Christopher’s Nidge, who amassed 95 points. Bred by Louise Lynch, the eight-year-old is by Cornarone Hazy Lady out of the Tessie’s Diamond mare Coral Emma.

Finishing one point adrift in second was Co Meath’s Amber Geraghty with the Eamon Spain-bred seven-year-old Ballindown Codie (by Gneevebrack Comet - Murrin Lass, by Windy’s Boy) who, in turn, had one point in hand over Chloe Cathcart riding the similarly-aged Máistir Ruadh (by Trá Bháin Céiléog - Katie Elder, by Robe Dark Knight).

The next four combinations, who were listed as qualifying by right, were Lauren Reynolds with the 14-year-old Carraig Galen Miller dun Tubbervale Misty Boy and Molly Costello on the five-year-old Silver Shadow gelding Kilnacappagh Shadow, who were both on 91 points, plus Tori Lilly with the nine-year-old Earlson gelding Cloonhill Genius and Emma Morrison with the four-year-old Lough Melvin Gorteen mare Sliabh Ban Rosie, who were both on 89.

There were 17 starters with one retirement and one elimination in that opener, while all 25 starters in the class for riders aged 16 and over managed to complete. Here, not surprisingly, the names of the riders were a lot more familiar.

Phoebe Beaumont took the first qualifying spot with 97 points on her mother Jan’s nine-year-old gelding Ardnehue April Joker (Castleside JJ - April Thunder, by Robe Thunder). The grey was bred in Co Carlow by the well-known Connemara performance pony producer Gloria Nolan. Having qualified under Lesley Jones at The Meadows, the seven-year-old Mary Dermody-bred gelding Derrylackey Playboy (Lightening Star - Derrylackey May, by Monaghanstown Barney) qualified here on 96 points in the hands of his owner, Emily McGowan.

Three combinations amassed 95 points apiece viz Amelia Durkan with the 10-year-old Classiebawn Black Jack gelding Busy Bee, Jackson Laing on the eight-year-old Newgrange Lad dun Doon Da Vinci and Rachel Moore Rooney with the 11-year-old Teach Mor King mare Belsa Beag. Qualifying on 94 points were Holly Blythe on the Shadow’s Dun nine-year-old Mano Of Deerpark and Nadine Dunne with the Captain Sparrow five-year-old Castleturvin Charlie.