HANNAH McGoldrick won the 1.25m Pony Grand Prix at CSIOP Fontainebleau in France last Sunday, making it Ireland’s third pony win in as many weeks, while Gary Marshall’s pony team finished on the podium in Friday’s Nations Cup.

McGoldrick was aboard Rachel Counihan’s 12-year-old Connemara Pony River View Annie (by Monaghanstown Fionn) and was one of six to make it through to the jump-off on four faults as there were no clears recorded in the first round.

Three riders managed to keep a clean sheet in the jump-off however, and two of those were Irish. McGoldrick’s electric time of 43.09 was three seconds faster than the runner-up, France’s Agathe Masquelier (4/0 46.03), ahead of Galway’s Conor McLaughlin and Wildwood Silver (4/0 49.35).

McGoldrick and River View Annie finished fourth in Saturday’s Table A. They posted the fastest time of 65.76 but one fence fell for four faults. McLaughlin was one place behind, again with Wildwood Silver. McGoldrick was awarded the leading lady rider at the show.

McLaughlin got a win of his own in Saturday’s 1.20m six-year-old final. He guided Michael Duffy’s Luitta, by Luidam Elite, to the only double clear to take victory in the final. Earlier in the week they finished fourth and second. Co Clare’s Rhys Williams also made it through to the four-horse jump-off with Morgan Sheehy’s Dundaniel Bigsky B and he finished in fourth place, while Hallie Crowe was 12th with Derrylough Hugo.

Orla Duffy enjoyed a great show aboard Sandra Duffy’s 11-year-old mare Vales Blue Song. She won Friday’s 1.25m Table A with a clear in 62.24 seconds.

John McEntee slotted into fourth aboard Little Smithe (ISH), also owned by Sandra Duffy, and Niamh McEvoy finished sixth with Milchem Shes A Keeper.

Duffy and her new mount then won Saturday’s 1.25m by three seconds in a time of 55.79 and McEntee was third. The tables turned in Sunday’s final when McEntee and Little Smithe got their win in a time of 65.25 seconds.

Duffy had the winning time but faulted once against the clock to finish third, just ahead of McEvoy in fourth.

NATIONS CUP

Duffy, McEntee and McEvoy were joined by Francis Derwin on the Nations Cup team. Guided by Gary Marshall, the team finished third of three in what was a competitive and low-scoring competition.

Niamh McEvoy was the standout performer with Claire Crawford’s Connemara Pony Ardfry Skye, jumping a double clear at their first international show together. Derwin guided Cul Ban Mistress, Jim Derwin’s medal-winning European Connemara Pony, to a clear first round before finishing with four faults in round two.

McEntee rode Terry Johnston’s My Gypsy Rose to two four fault rounds, while Duffy was withdrawn from the second round after finishing with four faults first time out with Anita Duffy’s Atlanta. Ireland finished third on a total of 12 faults, with Germany victorious on four faults.