THE third and last qualifying leg of the Irish Pony Society’s 2026 Sports Pony Challenge was held on Tuesday at Killossery Lodge Stud, where both jumping tracks were built by Harry Dunne.

While Mairead Ryan judged the working hunter phase all day and Gillie Beere ruled over the show jumping ring, the dressage-judging duties were divided between Clare Fitzsimmons and June Loughran, with the former assessing the 10 combinations forward for the 143cm class.

Already qualified for the final, Evie Kennedy was never going to let a winning chance go by and she topped the scores in both the dressage and working hunter sections on her mother Maeve’s Little Dromin Phoenix (Lettermuckmoo Lad - Ballindoon Dolan Sparrow, by Dolan Mick). Kennedy and the 17-year-old Connemara gelding could only finish sixth in the show jumping phase but, on a total of 275 points, comfortably saw off their rivals.

As both the second and third-placed combinations were also previously qualified, the first ticket was presented to Reuben McCann, who finished fourth on Tullamore Evening Star (250). Others to book a spot in the final out of this class were Nancy Lyons Teehan on Dartans Brandonwell Jack (242.5) and Ciara Cully with Colemanstown Fred (215).

Holohan double

Evie Holohan, who had been helping her mother Una with the IDHBA Kildare Branch Show at Punchestown on Monday, recorded a qualifying double.

On 290 points, she first landed the Connemara class for riders of any age on her mother’s 10-year-old mare Annettes Girl (Woodfield Oisin - Paul’s Princess, by Currachmore Cashel) and then, on 272.5, the novice class with Patrick Blake’s six-year-old home-bred Connemara gelding Ballyerk Minuet (Ballyerk Cream - Ballyerk Hes, by Clonfert Boy).

A number of riders who had clashed at the IPS Wicklow Area show on Saturday, did so again here in the starter stakes, won by Millie Dalton on the 24-year-old chesnut gelding Jubilee; Lennan Moloney claimed the honours in the 133cm class with the 18-year-old chesnut gelding Mister O’Malley; Katie Meany was the narrow winner of the 153cm class on the seven-year-old ISH gelding My Gurranes Amigo; Charlotte Goor saw off her sole rival to win the 158cm class on the 10-year-old ISH mare Ardville Whispering Hope; and Mary Kate Duffy did likewise in the 90cm Connemara class with the seven-year-old gelding Ballylinn Bruce.

Riders not mentioned above who qualified at Killossery Lodge Stud for the final are Polly Geraghty (Horse and Jockey Clasper) and Robin Lyons Teehan (Tybroughney Cloud) from the starter stakes; Judy O’Donnell (Cluainin Spring Johnson) and Tristan Kelly (Tinnecarrig Milo) from the 133cm section; Ella Connolly (Cranard Lockdown) and Maya von Moll (Tousist King) from the Connemara class for riders of any age; Tara Keogh (Loughmore Lioness) and Charlotte Goor (Redinagh Wild Card) from the 153cm class; Jessica Murphy (Leestone Conbreaker) 158cm class; Lynne Broderick (Cnocban Blaze) 90cm Connemaras; and Izzie Broderick Kiernan (Bob’s Your Uncle) and Orlaith O’Donohoe (Lishmar Clare) from the novice class.

The final of the Sports Pony Challenge will be held at the Boswell Equestrian Centre on Sunday, April 26th, a week after the Irish Pony Society’s Spring Show in Barnadown.