KUDOS to the Co Limerick Branch who ran an Open class at their Irish Pony Club/Connolly’s Red Mills eventing qualifier at Ballycahane Equestrian last Sunday which attracted eight of the event’s 251 entries.

There was one ‘non-runner’ on the day and a very close finish between Carbery’s Momo Sheehy riding E Warrantsson (31.75) and Waterford’s Orla Treacy on Caisleann Ri (32.75) who both completed on their dressage scores as the early leaders fell by the wayside.

Sheehy and her Dutch Warmblood gelding are the reigning Open champions, following their win at Tattersalls last August.

The Carberry Branch struck again in the Intermediate where all 35 entries stood their ground. Here there was a very comfortable win for Niamh Verkade on the Connemara gelding Westide Mirah Jack, a 12-year-old Carnabay Mirah bay, who completed on their dressage score of 26.25. West Waterford’s Siofra Marsch picked up four show jumping penalties on her way to placing second with Micmars First (34).

The Carberrys brought up a treble when Kali O’Donovan won the Novice Junior on Jessie.

Lauramai Leahy struck for The Kingdom Branch in the Intro Intermediate which she won on her dressage score of 33 with Killoskully Spirit ahead of Scarteen’s Emma Kennedy on Sinoia Luna (36).

Kildare Branch member Phonise Wardell chose to travel down to Crecora rather than Stradbally on Sunday and this decision paid dividends with a win in Section C of the Junior competition on the seven-year-old bay mare Ballybrit Kate (19.5).

Galway Mid County’s Juliet McLaughlin claimed the honours in Section A on Phoebe Figalily, a 12-year-old grey mare with whom she also competes under Show Jumping Ireland rules, and the Tipperarys initiated a double in Section B which went the way of Zach Palmer on the Connemara gelding Carnaween Jake, a nine-year-old Earl Of Kilmore grey with whom he won an EI90 (P) class last season.

The Tipperary double was completed in Section B of the Under 12s’ class by Ellie O’Donnell on Condor.

The Scarteen Branch got on the scoreboard in Section A through the very much in-form Jonty Purcell. He led after dressage with the Connemara mare Tullowcussane Anna (18.75) but when that Plume de Kezeg grey lowered a pole to finish second, Purcell moved up to win with the nine-year-old grey/roan gelding HHO Wayne (19).

“We had a very successful day with great entries and great weather and everyone went home in one piece,” commented Ballycahane-based Amelia Furnell who was one of the event organisers. Her father Gerald designed and built the cross-country tracks while Ivan McDonagh took charge of building the show jumping courses.