AS we mentioned in last Saturday’s column that he was due to make his Irish Pony Club eventing debut that day at Punchestown, readers might like to know that Kildare Branch member Tadgh O’Haire finished second, on his dressage score (23.46), in Section A of the Under 10s competition which was won by Tipperary’s Evie Kennedy on Casper The Ghost (22.31).

Tadgh’s partner was the Connemara pony Ballinclea Chiff Chaff who was previously competed by the nine-year-old’s brother, Daragh. However, the Carraig Galen Miller mare also plays another important role at the O’Haire family’s Hawthorn Farm Sport Horses’ yard near Naas as she has been a regular travelling companion to China Doll who has competed at the highest level in eventing under Tadgh’s father, James. Last year, Ballinclea Chiff Chaff visited Belton and then Badminton.