IT was another busy weekend at Barnadown Equestrian as it played host to the penultimate round of RDS pony qualifiers and contenders were out in droves in a bid for the coveted places.

First up, the 128cm division proved very competitive with eight combinations delivering double clear rounds. In the third round, the class went to the wire with four triple clears stopping the clock within the 37-second mark.

No strangers to the Dublin Horse Show qualifiers, Katie McEntee and Kilcreene Apollo won when they delivered the fastest of the four triple clears in a time of 31.59 seconds. This combination took fifth place in the 2016 championship and they will be looking to improve on this in August.

Bred by the Smithwick family in Kilkenny, Kilcreene Apollo is an RDS veteran having first competed there in 2009 with Shane Dalton.

It was a well worthwhile trip from the north to Gorey for Oliver Doherty as he took second place with Millfield Papoose, clear in 34.61. Zuwena Barrett and Dunbarover were third when they stopped the clock in 33.35, ahead of Lauren Murphy and Troglan in 36.27. Olivia Devereaux and Munsboro Plunkett proved fastest of the four-faulters in 37.09 for fifth place, ahead of Olivia Shanahan and Shangan Ritmo, who also had one on the floor but in the slower time of 41.12.

Alice Wachman and Little Ceaser, who had four faults in 43.17, finished seventh. Little Ceaser is another pony familiar in the RDS having made his debut there with Aoife McDonagh in 2008.

138cms

Winners of the Coolmore Stud Pony Premier in Ennis, Rhys Williams and Sligo Lux To Queeney added to their record when they crossed the line in 39.85 to take the win. Sligo Lux to Queeney finished runner-up at the RDS with Kate Derwin in 2015.

Williams was chased home by Ava Shortall and Dizzy Rascal who delivered the only other double clear, in 41.26. Fastest of the four-faulters (51.50) were Evie Quirke and Miss Mull, ahead of Isobel Hughes Kennedy and Coppenagh Celtic Rebel in fourth, who had four faults in 53.91.

Roisin O’Sullivan and Triplicate had two poles on the floor in 54.91 for fifth. Ashley Dunne and Astral Ruben crossed the line carrying 12 faults, in 43.79, for sixth, and Max Wachman and Youghal Paddy, who recorded 14 faults in 65.87, finished seventh.

148cms

Riders in the 148cm category were put to the test with five combinations proceeding to the second round and, of those, three completed. Taking the honours when double clear in 36.93 seconds was Wexford’s Harry Allen and Aughnashammer. This combination were part of the Irish squad at Hagen where they clocked up a win and second place in a two phase.

The only other double clear was delivered by Robyn Fagan and Another Destiny (51.17). Ruairi Aylward and Slaney Capitalist Cruise had two on the floor, but it was enough to slot into third place (45.10).

Robyn Morana and Moores Pride had an unfortunate elimination but slotted into fourth place. Lucy Shanahan and Caliber DE, who withdrew from the second round, had to contend with fifth place.

Ellen Thompson (Trendy Blue) and Pataire Crawford (Ardfry Skye) were unlucky to have both incurred a single time fault in the first round.

Six/seven-year-olds

The 148cms six/seven-year-olds class attracted a large entry and, as in previous rounds, there was a very good standard in this young pony division.

Ryan McDonald and Jasmines Holly won. Owned by Stephen McDonald from Wexford, Jasmines Holly is a six-year-old mare by Weststar Sunny out of the Moores Clover-sired mare Dancing Jasmine. This combination have proved extremely consistent at this level since last year.

Last year’s RDS Champions Seamus Hughes Kennedy and Keatingstown Hunky Dory (7yo) booked their place when they delivered a clear, in 42.90, for second place.

Lucy O’Sullivan and K-Little Hero (7yo) finished third when clear in 45.51, ahead of Orla Queally and Knockroe Clover Mor (6yo), who were clear in 47.68 for eventual fourth.

Sorcha Monaghan proved that the time could be beaten when she clocked 40.48 with Burning Wind (6yo), but four faults saw her take fifth place.

Jason Foley accounted for the last place as he slotted Shadow’s Dance (7yo) into sixth place when carrying four faults in 41.26.