Margie McLoone

THERE was a huge crowd around Ring 2 early on Sunday afternoon for the second International Connemara Performance challenge at the Dublin Horse Show between Ireland, France and Great Britain.

As the home team comprised the top four eligible combinations from Wednesday’s older performance championships, it was decided that, to level the playing field, the visitors would be allowed a familiarisation period in the ring on Saturday evening when they could jump on and off the bank.

Whether this was the reason or not, the French riders, all mounted on grey stallions, fared better over the 16 jumping efforts than those who competed in last August’s inaugural event.

The Gallic team was drawn first to jump after the parade but didn’t have the best of starts when the Caroline Roberge-ridden 12-year-old, Qualou des Muses (by Thunder Dublin), looked to be stuck on the bank. Through force of will, the crowd seemed to lift him off and the combination went on to complete.

In their turn, the rest of the French team fared better, their top-marked performance (225 points) coming from their third pairing of Lisa Babu riding the six-year-old Arsouez Du Maucomble, a son of Bunowen Paddy, who had For Sale after his breeding details.

The British Connemara Pony Society sent over a strong team of big jumping ponies, three of whom left all the fences intact, with Cashel Bay JJ, ridden by Lucy Eddis for her mother Polly, finishing first individually. This was thanks to their winning flat mark (60.5) and the good score of 24 (out of 30) awarded to the Castleside JJ gelding by the conformation judge, Stuart Hollings.

Team GB also claimed the second top spot through the returning Amy Smith and her nine-year-old Rynn Richard gelding Laburnum Richard (261.5).

Third individually, and best of the Irish, was Megan Telford-Kelly riding the smallest pony in the class, her mother Rosalind’s Fond Of A Drop (255.5), with whom she competed in the CCI* for ponies at Tattersalls. The 10-year-old Ashfield Storm Cloud gelding, a regular on the Irish Pony Club circuit, recorded the only clear for the team.

The three squads returned to Ring 2 behind their chefs d’equipe for the prize-giving ceremony when Great Britain, who had considerable support among spectators, was announced as winners on a total of 780.5 with Ireland, led by Lt Col Brian MacSweeney, second (767) and France third (657). Hopefully some more countries with Connemara breed societies will be encouraged to send a team over next year.

“It is a privilege to be invited by the RDS to compete here,” said the British chef, Debbie Nickson, who represents the BCPS at various events.

“It has been a great experience for our girls and we would love to come back in 2017. I personally would like it if the rule could be changed to allow a second older rider compete as I find it difficult to get younger ones at this time of year.”