THE second and final qualifier for this year’s Sports Pony Challenge, organised by the working hunter committee of the Irish Pony Society, was held on Bank Holiday Monday at Marlton Stud.

The Challenge covers the disciplines of dressage, working hunter and show jumping and, in the opening Novice class, consistency was the key as the winners, Tekka Whelan and the ex-racehorse Fortunate Max, won both the dressage and show jumping phases and were joint-second in the working hunter leg.

Fortunate Max, who was second under Whelan in the first qualifier at Killossery Lodge Stud, is a six-year-old gelding by Maxios and was bred by Mount Coote Stud out of the four-time winning Cape Cross mare Prospera. He, himself, only ran once, finishing ninth of 16 in a mile maiden for two-year-olds at Bellewstown in August 2018 when trained by Tony Mullins.

“We bought Max from Rosemary Connors, who did a great job retraining him, and, since then, we have brought him on slowly,” revealed the rider’s mother, Michelle Brennan. “He has a great attitude to his work and learns very quickly. He is a lovely, kind horse who gives his all every time.

“Last year he did some showing with the IPS plus combined training and the eventing leagues in Killossery among other things. After all that, we turned him away for five months which was the making of him; he has come back all grown up.

“He and Tekka were recently second in the Wicklow area novice 153cms working hunter class and on May 14th (today) they are doing the 90cms competition at the Try Eventing in Rosanna. We will be going to the Sports Pony Challenge on the 21st in Spruce Lodge and, after that, we will be concentrating on the Irish Pony Club one-day event series with the hope of qualifying for the championships in August; Tekka is a member of the Bray Branch.”

Double for Coad

Eleven-year-old Isla Coad and Frosthill Jackaroo, a part-bred Welsh gelding by Twyford Jorrocks, completed a Killossery/Marlton double in the 133cms class. Between the two legs, the combination travelled to Cavan for the Northern Ireland Festival where they qualified for the Horse of the Year Show when winning the 133cms class while they also won the Festival 133cms open working hunter.

Ned Kelly improved a place from the first qualifier to win the 143cms section on the New Forest gelding Rowdown Archer, a six-year-old bay by Priory Pipalong with whom he has qualified for the 143cms working hunter championship at the Royal International Horse Show.

The sole Connemara class was won by Isla Coad’s older sister Rosie and Murvey Katie who topped the scores in both jumping phases having finished third in dressage. The six-year-old mare by Coosheen Stormboy was bred by Bernard and Jack Keaney in Roundstone, Galway out of Sweet Hannah (by Coolillaun Cushlawn).

“We had Katie since she was three and Rosie has produced her,” said the Coads’ mother, Carol. “She spent last season eventing, winning two out of three EI90 (P) starts. As Rosie’s working hunter pony is out of action, we brought Katie out just for a spin and she seems to be loving it! They won the Under 14 Connemara cup at the Northern Ireland Festival and have had numerous successes in IPS novice and Under 16 working hunters.

“The Sports Pony Challenge is such a fab competition!” enthused Carol. “There’s a very high standard and it’s super competitive. It would be great to see it rolled out more and for them to get a Burghley Gold Cup qualifying spot for the league winners!”

Riding the six-year-old Kinvara Boy gelding Galtee Donald, Alisha Vard claimed the honours in the 153cms class; Jessica Murphy topped the scores in the 158cms division on the 10-year-old Rotspons Prince MFS gelding Darcy de Chanteloube; and Maccon Keane landed the Starker Stakes on board the Welsh pony, Tynffrwd Carys.

While the Sports Pony Challenge qualifiers were open to all, those competing at the final, which takes place this day week, Saturday, May 21st, at Spruce Lodge, Co Wicklow, must be members of the Irish Pony Society. Also, apart from those animals competing in the finals of the Connemara classes, all ponies must have a current measuring certificate.

As the first scheduled qualifier at Ross House was cancelled, the first five in each class at Killossery Lodge and Marlton are eligible for the final at which there will be a prize-fund of €3,000.