THE Coolmore Stud Pony Premier at Maryville saw top combinations out in force last Saturday. Not only was it the last leg of the series ahead of the final, but it provided riders and ponies with a perfect warm-up for Dublin as most of the qualified combinations were competing. If the standard at Maryville is anything to go by, the Championships in the RDS will be very exciting.

Victory in the 128cms under 10 Coolmore Stud Pony Premier, went to the under 10 National Champion Senan Reape. Riding King Of Rock & Roll, he galloped home in 34.08 seconds. Little separated the next placings as Lauren Adams and Dimples Dilema were fractions behind in 34.19.

Reape was back in the ribbons when he delivered another clear with Garryndruig Ringo Star in 34.76. James Derwin and Ballyknock Master Roan slotted into fourth, clear in 34.86, ahead of Kian Dore’s PARC Pixie, clear in 35.06. Kath Lynch and Coppenagh Hakuna Matata were sixth, clear in 39.73.

128cms

Tom Wachman, winner of three of the four rounds and last year’s champion, once again led the victory lap in the 128cms Coolmore Stud Pony Premier. Riding Parc Epic, he crossed the line clear in 35.18. This result places him top of the leaderboard on 33 points.

It was a close call as Katie McEntee and Kilcreene Apollo were a split second behind in 35.38. McEntee lies in second place on the leaderboard. Not content with the win, Wachman returned to take third with Sparkel, clear in 37.62.

Runner-up in Barnadown, Zuwena Barrett and Dunbarover were last of the double clears in 41.29 for fourth. Olivia Devereaux and Munsboro Plunkett had an unlucky four faults, in a time of 37.13, for fifth, ahead of Coen Williams’ Parc Giggles, who also had one on the floor, in 37.96.

This was an important result for Williams as it means he lies in third place on the overall leaderboard.

138cms

Max Foley and Mayfly Green Peter didn’t hang about in the 138cms Coolmore Stud Pony Premier and Foley’s experience showed as he delivered the winning round, clear in 37.16.

Max Wachman and Scarlett’s Billy The Kid were hot on the winner’s heels, in 38.88, for second place. Ellie-Rose Cassidy and Ballywire Mirah delivered the last double clear in this division, in 49.37, for third and now is in third place on the leaderboard.

John McEntee and Mentos Lara was fastest of the four-faulters in 39.61 for fourth, ahead of Rhys Williams and Sligo Lux To Queeney who was also carrying four faults in 44.63. Williams will finish the four rounds on 22 points, which puts him in second on the leaderboard ahead of the final.

John McEntee also completed the top six line-up when he finished on four faults with Hubba Bubba 47.67. Although finishing in seventh place with Ruby Brown on this occasion, Francis Derwin lies in poll position on the leaderboard on 29 points have won two legs and two placings.

148cms

Ciaran Nallon is proving to be a dominant force in the 148cms Coolmore Stud Pony Premier League and he proved this once again as he partnered David Maguire’s Flintstone to win, clear in 37.05. This is Nallon’s third win of the series and he has a 24-point lead over his nearest rival Harry Allen.

Nallon topped it off as he also took second with Dibidoe when he put in another foot-perfect performance in 40.82.

Chloe Fagan accounted for third place when she partnered Sandra Duffy’s Petrus Spartacus to a clear in 41.44. This is a relatively new combination having just been formed in March.

Emma McEntee and Saxton Freedam were last of the double clears, recording a time of 43.97. Fastest of the four faulters, in 42.62, was Ruairi Aylward and Coppenagh Oliver Twist, while Jason Foley and More Clover slotted into sixth when finishing on 11 faults in 58.56.

Foley has been placed in three of the four legs and now shares equal second place.