ALEX Connors followed her sister Zara Nelson into the winner’s enclosure at Lightsource BP Tyrella (3) last Saturday when, despite four show jumping penalties, she landed the four-runner EI110 (J) on her mother Michelle’s 13-year-old Master Imp gelding OLS Pixie Hollow on whom she took over the ride this season.

Connors looked like doubling up in the EI100 (P) having led after dressage with Blennerville Rua (29.5 penalties) but had a fence down show jumping to leave the door open for Lucy McDowell to win with her father Michael’s Lisnahall Miss Toffee (30.8), a 17-year-old mare by Song Of Freedom.

Penalties incurred over the Aaron McCusker-designed show jumping track also proved decisive in the five-strong EI110 (P) class where Connors’s fellow Kildare Pony Club member, Kate Fahey, just lowered one of the coloured poles to win on her mother Ber’s 14-year-old grey gelding, I Cant Believe It.

Jumping penalties

Four show jumping penalties saw Kaiti McCann slip from first to fifth in the 16-runner EI100 (J) with Boyher Cookies N Creme on whom she led after dressage on 27 penalties.

A Level student Abby Cummiskey made the most of McCann’s mishap to record her third win at this level on Sandi Thompson’s 16-year-old Catherston Gold Storm gelding, Crackerjack VIII (28).

From just three starts, Gilford’s Kitty Cullen (11) brought up an amazing hat-trick of EI90 (P) wins at Tyrella when completing on her dressage score with Jane Morrow’s Connemara gelding Moyans Dun Deal, an 18-year-old dun by Moyans Dun Deal.