FOR those who enjoy a scenic drive on a Saturday, the undulating roads surrounded by stone walled fields were a rare treat as the Ballinroe Pony Premier and the Boomerang.ie Starfinder Series headed into the west to Glenamaddy, Co Galway, for leg four of six in the series.

As is customary, it was the COH/Junior Handicap Premier Series that kicked off action in Arena 1, with a relatively leisurely start of 9.30am. Winner here was Mark Neilan and the seven-year-old, Nightingale, closely followed by Isabelle Ó Conaola and Earl Greys Last Cruise, who are the current series leaders with two wins and a second place from the three legs to date. Zoe Mellett rounded out the podium presentation with third place on Jasmine Tide.

It was the excitement of the 128 U10 Premier combinations that were next to take on Tommy Gibbons challenging and up to height track, and seven combinations progressed to a lightning fast jump- off where Daniel McKeon-Devaney and Pillheath Camelia came out on top, with Kara McLaughlin and Maesteg Edward close behind. Saoirse Murphy and seasoned campaigner, The Nut Cracker finished in third with the only other double clear in the class.

The 128 1.05m Premier saw both of the league leaders in an exciting duel with current league leader, Lucia Keane and the consistent Ravara Mohawk being pipped by the final combination, Chloe Clarke and Kilcreene Apollo, a pony who has found himself bedecked in the winner’s rug with many a top young rider over the years. Blathnaid Murphy finished in third place with Kiltormer Ruby.

Charlie Flynn and Knud van Orchid’s underlined their dominance with another win the 138 1.15m Premier, his third of the series. Cathal McKeon-Devaney continued a great day for the McKeon-Devaney family when putting in a valiant effort to pick up second place, while Padraig Howley Jnr finished third with Conazar Jayne.

The 148 1.30m Premier saw a reduced field, perhaps due to clashing with the European Pony Championships. Seven of the fifteen starters made it to the jump- off with both Alanna Fagan and Cian McMunn going in double handed, however it was Zara-Jane Kelly who gave a repeat of her earlier win at The Meadows, using her pony, Romabout’s natural speed over the ground to knock Cian McMunn and Esperando SK in to second place by less than half a second, with Alanna Fagan and Glor Tire Cruise less than half a second adrift in third.

Fresh back from a trip to the COH European Championships in Peelbergen, teammates Sam Widger and Ted Fagan found themselves back on ponies and on top of the podium in the 148 six- and seven-year-old Boomerang.ie Starfinder series.

Sam Widger and Grantstown Dazzle came out on top by the narrowest of margins from Ted Fagan and Hachtag Kerbotin with Harry Rush and Birchgrove Blue Delight in third.

The last class of the day in Arena 1 was the Bob Sweeney Future Champions 148 1.15m which was won by Chloe Fenton and Slieverushen Oscar. Arena 2 played host to a variety of smaller classes. Jack Rush and Walter’s Moonlite Casino won the 128 U10 85cm Future Champions, Katie McMunn and Colliyers Pal Joey won the 128 95cm, and Zoe Mellett rounded off her successful day when winning the 138 1.05 Future Champions with Lynncot Lady Eleanora.

Next stop, Barnadown and the first Premier on grass.