PONY riders got the early morning call on Friday with the North Star-sponsored 138cm Championships kicking off the show jumping action for the day in the main arena. A total of 14 hopefuls put their best foot forward in a bid to take the title and in the end, Tipperary’s Charlie Flynn and Knud Van Orchid’s claimed the title.

A delighted Charlie said: “To get to Dublin was always one of my dreams, but to win the qualifier in Simmonscourt and then to win in the Main Arena is just a dream come true for me. Team work makes the dream work.”

Owned by Susan Keane, the 14-year-old gelding is by Kanshebber out of Orchid’s Maudii. This pony has over 800 show jumping points on his record and qualified for the RDS at Barnadown.

Setting the challenge was course designer Aaron McCusker and six booked their place against the clock. The first four clears came at the start of the class, but spectators had to wait until later in the class for the last two.

First into the jump-off, Cian McMunn and Et Hop De Naelle started off strongly, but four faults early on course in a time of 28.19 would see him slot into fourth place.

Joshua Broderick and D’Hectare Des Ifs proved out of luck when they hit the first part of the double, crossing the line in 32.17 for fifth place.

All eyes were on the defending champions Ruben Foley and Mayfly Green Peter. The Carlow rider clearly had a win in mind and took a series of tight lines to hold the lead, clear in 29.64.

Next up, Ciara Ryan and Quantum Midnight Gypsy looked on target but things didn’t go according to plan as a tight turn saw her take a fall. Neither rider or pony were harmed and the duo took home the sixth-place rosette.

A prolific winner on the national circuit, Charlie Flynn knew what he needed to do as he took on the challenge with Knud Van Orchid’s. Wasting no time, he negotiated a very tight line to fence six. Although they had a slight slip at the approach to fence 11, they maintained the pace to clock the winning time of 27.94 and demote Foley into second.

Last to go, Juliet Quirke put in a well-executed round with Blackwood Killamaster and came home, clear in 34.40 for third place.

Reape in sparkling form

Following his European Championship medal success, Sligo’s Paddy Reape added another win to his list of accolades as he claimed the North Star 148cm Championship crown on Friday with Valma De Fougnard. Paddy (16), whose family run Ard Chuain Equestrian Centre in Co Sligo, was part of the Irish U16 team that won team gold, and he won the individual gold medal in France. Owned by Foley’s Ponies, Valma De Fougnard is a 14-year-old French mare by Kantje’s Ronaldo out of Qure DE La Rice.

“We are absolutely delighted winning the RDS 148 Championship. It’s the show that every rider dreams of winning and to do this the week after winning the European individual gold is the icing on the cake. It has been an amazing year for Paddy and a great way to finish his pony career,” said the Reape family.

The first round was up to standard for the 14 combinations who booked their places, of those four returned to go against the clock.

First to go, Reape set off strongly with Valma De Fougnard. They took a very tight turn to the double and maintained a strong pace from there on in to set the winning time of 32.50 seconds.

Fellow gold medal team member, James Derwin was next to take it on with Rincoola Babog and although he took a series of tight lines, he had to settle for second place when they came home with nothing to add in 33.16.

Also part of the European gold medal winning team and individual bronze medallist, Kian Dore and Wineport Q Junior proved out of luck when faulting at the double and the oxer. Their time of 31.44 saw them take fourth place.

Last to go, Alexandra Kiernan, and Sweet Renees Girl answered all the questions in 42.56 for third place.

Zoe Keys was fastest of the four-faulters in the first round aboard Victory Day Li in 68.90 for fifth place, ahead of Emily Moloney, who also had one down in the first round with Lady Crown in 71.94. Moloney was also part of the European gold medal team making it four team members in the line-up.

Title win for Moloney

Friday’s jumping in the Main Arena came to an exciting close with the 18 combinations contesting the North Star 128cm Championship. Claiming this coveted title was Waterford’s Aimee Moloney and Ellis Island D’Argan.

Moloney said: “It feels amazing as I didn’t expect to win today. This is my last year in 128s so it is very special. I am trained by my auntie Derval and my grandad Michael. The advice they gave me was to go fast.”

Spectators didn’t have to wait long for the first clear as first to go Charlie Flynn and Daffodil answered all the questions. Although the double at 10 a/b caused its fair share of problems, a further seven joined him in the jump-off.

The pressure was on Flynn as he took to the jump-off course.

Setting off at a blistering pace their hopes of a win faded as they faulted at the telephone box, crossing the line in 39.07 for fifth place.

Next up, Aimee Moloney and Ellis Island D’Argan meant business from the start, getting a great turn to fence three and later to the Longines vertical at nine. They galloped home to clock the winning round, clear in 36.80.

Kilkenny’s Ava O’Neill knew what she needed to do as she set off with He’s A Touch Of Magic. She took a similar route as the leader and executed a series of tight lines to finish in 37.11 to take the reserve championship.

Alayna Hawkins and Ballynacregga Red put in an impressive round, and despite a slip on the approach to fence nine, the combination came home clear in 40.26 to take third place.

Jack Dore opted to go wide to fence three with Woodside Jerry-Lee, but made up time by taking the inside line to Longines vertical. Despite the tactical riding, four faults at the last in a time of 36.76 meant he had to settle for eventual fourth.

All eyes were on the last to go, Georgia de Bromhead with The Silver Legend. The combination proved out of luck when they faulted at the telephone box fence and their time of 39.10 saw them slot into sixth place.