THERE were 15 starters in the Intro Intermediate pairs championship at last Saturday’s Mackey Irish Pony Club national hunter trials championships at Ballycahane Equestrian, where the only ones to go clear were the Kilkenny Cats.

Also stopping the clock on a good time of 4.55 minutes were Anna Ryle riding Artic Star, who were second in their arena at the national eventing championships, and Meabh Hearne riding the eight-year-old palamino gelding Comeraghs Marko.