THE Killinick Branch of the Irish Pony Club held their Connolly’s Red Mills eventing qualifier last Wednesday week at Sleedagh Farm where Longford’s Edel Whyte moved to the top of the Open league when winning for the second time this season on Abel Star.

In the six-runner class, the hosts’ Aoife Pettit led after Ann Kirwan’s judging of the dressage phase on Beau Dearg (28.3) but, with four show jumping penalties and 10 for time across the country, she had to settle for the runner-up spot. Whyte, who was lying second on 32.8 following the flat-work phase, also had a fence down show jumping with Abel Star but she and the eight-year-old Manninard Abel gelding were the only combination to go clear within the time on the final leg.