IT was surprising to see that three extra qualifying spots for the North Down Marquees Connemara section at Balmoral Show were awarded at last Saturday’s second round of qualifiers at Hazeldene.

In both working hunter classes, a seventh combination was deemed qualified, while in the ridden section, where five qualification spots were on offer in each of three classes, a sixth combination secured a qualifying ticket in the class restricted to ponies aged six and over and to riders aged 10 and over on January 1st.

Regarding the ridden class, a representative of Balmoral Show commented: “With the competitors in fourth place, fifth place and sixth place on the exact same scores the whole way through the competition, the final determining criteria was at the judge’s discretion. On the day, it was felt that all three competitors had equal merit and deserved a place at this year’s Balmoral Show.”

As regards, the two working hunter classes, they continued: “When competitors at any of our equine qualifier events have the same overall final scoring, our judges review the scoring criteria and their various weightings. The judge’s discretion is always used to make any final decisions.”

Crozier tops qualification

Katie Crozier assured herself of a second ride in the Connemara section of this year’s Balmoral Show, when topping judge Glenn Farrell Walker’s scores in the ridden class for ponies aged six and up and riders aged 10 over on January 1st at the second qualifier hosted by Andrew and Laura Napier at Hazeldene Farm last Saturday.

Co Armagh-based Crozier, who is enjoying working full-time at home-producing all types of show horses and ponies, amassed 46 marks on board Aisling Lawless’s Mochulla Gale, a seven-year-old mare by Danesfield Prince, who was bred by Denis O’Halloran out of the Moculla Dun mare Mochulla Lilly.

“This mare was broken at three, then spent three years in the field until I got her last September; this was her second show,” revealed Crozier. “Sadly, her owner couldn’t be at Hazeldene as she was attending the funeral of her granny, with whom she used to discuss the mare every day.”

At The Meadows the previous weekend, Crozier qualified Avril Kelly’s 2022 Killaneen Boy gelding Dunran Boy George for the four and five-year-old class at Balmoral.

https://foto.ifj.ie/fotoweb/archives/5006-Irish-Horse-World/Irish%20Horse%20World/2020/PHP_2819.JPG.info#c=%2Ffotoweb%2Farchives%2F5006-Irish-Horse-World%2F%3Fq%3Dhazeldene

Sadhbh O’Connor on Doonreaghan Rob qualifies for the ridden Connemaras at Balmoral \ JRS Photography

Two well-established combinations completed on 45.5 points apiece on Saturday to place second and third. These were Sadhbh O’Connor with her mother Aoife’s six-year-old gelding Teach Mór Sparrow (Blakehill Sparrow - Kelly’s Hero, by Commanding Hero) and Phoebe Beaumont with her mother Jan’s Ardnehue April Joker who, in the morning, had topped the scores in the older riders’ working hunter qualifier.

An extra qualifying spot was awarded here as three combinations, who completed on 45 marks apiece, had matching scores throughout. These were Claire Gilchrist with the 15-year-old Illaunaurra Lad mare Knowehead Belle, Ellie Annett with the six-year-old Dooneen Supermatch mare Beachmount Hotel and Emmalee Turley with the 11-year-old Teach Mor King mare Belsa Beag. The last-named pony also qualified for Balmoral on Saturday in the adult working hunter, where she was ridden by Rachel Moore Rooney.

Co Kildare-based Sadhbh O’Connor had earlier won the four and five-year-old ridden qualifier with 45 marks on Aoife’s home-bred five-year-old gelding Doonreaghan Rob (Glencarrig Knight - Doonreaghan Milly, by Coosheen Stormboy).

The more locally-based Emma Jackson placed second (44) with the four-year-old gelding Burleigh Bród (Magherafadda Lad - Blakehill Christina, by Cnocbán Cassanova), ahead of Jodie McKay on 43.5 marks on the five-year-old gelding Cregduff Devlin (Manor Duke - Cregduff Fiona, by Carra Cashel). Also qualifying here were Sophia Campbell with the four-year-old Rogaire Na Locha gelding Buachaill Ná Locha (41.5) and Jessica Murphy on the five-year-old Cashelbay Prince mare Rathville Poppy (41).

In the qualifier for ponies aged four years old and upwards suitable to be partnered by riders who had attained their 10th birthday but not their 16th on January 1st, the honours went to Co Tyrone’s Kelly Daly. She was awarded Farrell-Walker’s top score of 45 marks on board the Jimmy Carr-bred 11-year-old grey gelding Castlemadden Éibhir (I Love You Melody - Crann Giúsaí, bu Rosscastle Fred).

Matilda Wall was narrowly beaten into second (44.5) with the 13-year-old gelding Agharanny Knight (Banks Timber - Lehid Heather, by Frederiksminde Hazy Match). Three combinations completed on 44 marks apiece to qualify in third, fourth and fifth viz Taylor-Lee Doyle with the six-year-old Oscar Liath mare Moorland Starling, Joseph Hutchinson with the similarly-aged Too Much Melody mare Rosscon Lillybelle and Lily Morgan with the 10-year-old Westside Mirah gelding Mirah de Goariva.

The third Balmoral Connemara qualifier is taking place tomorrow at Duffys Equestrian Centre, where it is being run in conjunction with the Irish Pony Society Western Region’s spring show. There will then be a week’s break until the fourth and final qualifier at the Mullingar Equestrian Centre on Sunday, March 29th.