LAST weekend was another busy one for pony and young riders as they travelled to Barnadown in C Wexford to contest the second round of the Dublin Horse Show qualifiers.
The qualifiers, which were sponsored by George Mullins International Horse Transport, began with the 128cm qualifiers with 84 combinations declared to jump. From the original starters, seven triple clears were delivered.
No stranger to the winners’ enclosure, James Derwin and Ballyknock Master Roan took the win, clear in 33.67.
A familiar face at the Dublin Horse Show, Senan Reape and Mickybo were fractions behind in 34.48 for second place. It was a successful outing for the Reape family as Paddy Reape and Heartbreaker took third, when clocking 35.69 ahead of Katie McEntee, riding Jonathan Reape’s Little Miss Millie, clear in 35.75.
Coen Williams’ careful riding with Lakefield Stormy saw them deliver a clear in 36.15 for eventual fifth. Paddy Reape was back in the ribbons, this time taking sixth with Ashars Miami Bound, in 37.61.
Katie McEntee also took another place when she partnered the prolific winner Star Spangled Banner to a clear in 39.01.
138cm
A total of 56 combinations were declared to contest the 138cm decider and of those, six triple clears were delivered. Taking the win, clear in 38.65 seconds, was Robyn Lee riding Susan O’Shea’s Creative Dancer. Lee was chased home by Annie Gibson and Woodfield Superstar, who clocked 38.79.
Kilkenny rider Isobel Hughes Kennedy booked her ticket when she partnered Coppenagh Celtic Rebel into third, when clocking 43.41. Evie Quirke and Miss Mull were fractions behind in 43.60 for eventual fourth, ahead of Aine Shorthall and Ruby Brown, in 47.53. Last of the triple clears was Aaron John Killoran, riding Flyover Girl, in 47.93. Alan Fitzgerald posted a time of 40.15 with Tynagh Sunshine, but four faults saw them slot into seventh place.
148cm
It will certainly be a busy horse show for the Hughes family as Molly Hughes Bravo and Carrickaduff Pet took the win in the 148cm decider, when fastest of the five triple clears in 37.87.
Rhys Williams, who has already booked places in the 138cm division, took second place with Shadow Dancer, clear in 40.89.
Accounting for third place was John McEntee riding Jim Derwin’s Master Stevie G, clear in 43.81. Niamh McEvoy and Fireman kept all the poles in place in 44.71 for eventual fourth.
Lucy Shanahan partnered the Sandra Duffy-owned Caliber DE, to a clear in 44.86 for fifth. Patrick Kavanagh clocked a fast time of 39.11 with Rock Of Dawn, but it came at a price as he crossed the line with four faults, for sixth place.
148cm SIX/SEVEN-YEAR-OLDS
In the 148cm six/seven-year-olds, 35 six-year-olds were declared to jump, while in the seven-year-olds, 43 featured on the startlist.
Taking the win was Robyn Moran riding Eoin Glynn’s Colesgrove Cavalier, clear in 40.89. A six-year-old by Mermus R out of the Cavalier Royal-sired dam Glinsk Molly, the stallion will be making his first appearance at Dublin Horse Show.
James Connors Smyth partnered the Shane Hawkins-owned Mount Ross Sprinter (7yo) into second when they kept all the poles in the cups in 41.39. Emily Costello and Coumbrack Mr (6yo) took third when clear in 41.85 ahead of Ruairi Clarke and Lissyegan Bonny Babe (6yo), clear in 45.38.
Slotting into fifth was Hugo McAlpine and Drumcashel Little Legend (7yo), who incurred four faults in 40.46, ahead of Orlaith Ryan riding Tim Hickey’s Joe Schoch (6yo), four faults in 45.08.