THE Tipperary Hunt Branch held their Connolly’s Red Mills/Irish Pony Club eventing qualifier last Sunday at Grove where the beautiful trees provided shade for riders and their mounts waiting to compete. Spare a thought for the day’s scorers who, in contrast, were sweltering in a small marquee from 9am until 8pm.

The day’s action started with a seven-runner Open class where, despite the addition of four show jumping penalties for a total of 31.5, the Uniteds’ Isabel Fitzgerald recorded an all-the-way win on the Irish Sport Horse mare OLS Pixie Hollow, a 17-year-old bay by Master Imp who she has competed at CCI2*-L level. Also with a pole down show jumping, Laois’s Megan Adams finished second with Oliver’s Girl (33.8).