THE Equestrian Store N.I. sponsored Pony Premier reached the halfway stage last Sunday when Maurice Cousins and the team at Barnadown played host to this hugely successful league.

The second HSI viewing trial was also incorporated into this show and, with this in mind, Mark McGowan was the chosen course designer.

As the sunny south east lived up to its name, the action kicked off sharp at 9.00am on Sunday morning with the 128cms Under 10 Premier class, which provided one of the best displays of show jumping witnessed in a long time.

Thirty-one combinations threw their hats into the ring and 22 of those jumped their way into the second round. With only one pair faltering in the second round, 21 combinations went on to jump against the clock.

Marta Hughes Bravo led for a while on Cocky Rocky (29.43), only to relegate herself with her other pony Little Miss Big Time (28.21) but still this was not fast enough as Katie McEntee and Super Sonic jumped a blistering round leaving everything intact in 27.96 to take the win and full league points. Coen Williams separated Bravo’s two as he slotted into third place with Castle Quarter Hero (28.77), he also finished in fifth on PARC Sassy Brassy (29.58) with another protégé of Tom Slattery claiming sixth place – Kian Dore and PARC Pixie (30.93).

LEAGUE LEADER

Williams holds onto the top spot in the league table with 24 points as McEntee continues to bite at his heels on 22 points with Dore catching up on 19 points.

Course designer Mark McGowan professed himself to be very impressed with the concept of the competition and the standard and talents of Ireland’s youngest athletes, which he said was food for thought for Scottish show jumping.

The 128cms Premier Series continued in the same vein as the level of jumping continued to exceed all expectations.

Twenty-seven riders went to post in this one and 16 went into the second round, with 13 making it into the jump-off. Ulster riders dominated this third round.

First to go was John McEntee and Star Spangled Banner, this pair jumping clear in 37.53, good enough for fourth place.

Next in was Ryan Sweetnam and The Silver Legend, under pressure to perform as well as his sisters had the week before, but perform they did, storming home in 35.77 with all fences intact to take the lead.

This held until the third last to go shaved 0.32 of a second off that time to take the lead and the win as Banbridge rider Alex Finney and Ballyknock Master Roan jumped clear in 35.45.

Third place went to Natasha Kerr, also a Banbridge native, and The Nut Cracker (36.59). Rhys Williams emulated his younger brother’s success as he finished in fifth in this division when riding Derrylogher Misty (40.38), with Niamh McEvoy representing Co Tyrone claiming sixth place with Sparkling Majestic Ceaser (43.82).

The league leaderboard in this 128cms division is also very tight. It is headed by Francis Derwin on 21 points, ahead of John McEntee in runner-up spot on 19 points, with Alex Finney catching up on 15 points.

Numbers are slightly lower in the 138cms division this year but quality is definitely shining over quantity as Harry Allen remained on a 100% strike rate.

Riding Fountain Ranger, this pair claimed their third win from three starts, remaining on a zero score in a time of 35.12 at Barnadown.

Jason Foley continued his come back from injury in fine style as he finished in second and fifth place with Bear Me In Mind (37.87) and Kiltormer Hero (40.55). Kate Derwin took third with Sligo Lux To Queeney (37.96), with Charlotte Houston and Woodfield Superstar proving their consistency as they finished fourth for the third time in the league (39.26). Leah Stack picked up points for her sixth place finish with Amber Leaf (41.19).

Allen continues to dominate the leaderboard on 30 points, with Derwin in second (23 points) and Foley third (19 points).

EUROPEAN SELECTION

The first round of the 148cms Premier Series was the last counting round for those seeking points towards European selection and as such saw 40 combinations start. This was reduced to 10 for the second round, with two of these going forward with one time fault apiece.

Six remained on zero to go into the jump-off, where Cormac Foley took the title on Another Destiny by leaving everything standing in up in a time of 38.76. The runner-up was Adam Carey on Stakkati as they stopped the clock in 39.34 on a zero score, this pair seeking accreditation to compete at the Europeans for the home nation Sweden.

Cian Harrison and Greta III were the only other partnership to remain on zero and they took third with a time of 42.57. The fastest four-faulter was Abbie Sweetnam and Spartacus Reape (0/0/4/38.40) who took fourth place.

Jack Ryan returned from a successful trip to Deauville on the Irish children on horses squad to finsih fifth with Sixmilewater Blaze (0/0/4/40.42. Sixth place went to Olivia Roulston and Ballygawleys Little Ferro (0/0/8/38.11).

The leaderboard in this division could not possibly be any tighter as Jack Ryan and Cormac Foley are currently sharing poll position on 15 points, with Abbie Sweetnam tucked in tightly behind on 14 points.

The action is sure to hot up even further as the Equestrian Store NI-sponsored league moves to Cavan Equestrian on June 13th for the fourth league of the six-leg series.