IRISH pony riders ended a hugely successful season on a high with impressive results at the South View Home Pony International, Cheshire.

Charlotte Foley and Ghost Rider Kerveyer proved the best of the Irish in the mixed teams competition, winning bronze. Ted Fagan (Kiltormer Ruby) won the Thursday’s 128cm Winters and was also second in the Saturday’s equivalent with Dooneen’s Electric, while Sam Widger and Creevelea Fire Fox went one better, taking the win. Ted and Sam, along with Jack Dore riding Woodside Gerry Lee and Medb Kinney riding Leilaish Lady Penelope, formed the 128cm Irish team, who were victorious in Friday’s Nations Cup.

Annie Boland and the consistent Mayfly Black Pennell took the win in the 138cm Winters on Thursday, cementing their place on the Irish team for Friday alongside Nicole Brennan with Shenandoah Sadie, Lauren Adams with D Drim de Brixia and James Derwin with Ruby Brown. Solid performances all round gave the Irish team the gold on a zero score.

The 1.15m Rising Star for 148cm ponies on Wednesday saw Lauren Adams and Quintaira DZ finish third from over 100 starters. They repeated this feat on Thursday picking up another third, while Alanna Fagan went one better for second with Kilkillahara Beauty before going on to take the win in the Championship Final on the Saturday with a blistering round in a very fast 24-combination jump-off.

Alanna Fagan and Kilkillahara Beauty (pictured winning the 148-1.20m Championship at Cavan) won the 148cm Championship Final at South View HPI \ Laurence Dunne Jumpinaction.net

Team Gold for Ireland

The 148cm Debut Team was selected from the Rising Star competitions and aims to give up and coming combinations a taste of team competition. Kim Moore with GTA Lucy Lou, Mary Fitzgerald with Rathduff Good Guy R, Isabelle Boland with Ice Cold Sherry VD Zuuthhoeve and Natasha Foley with Kylebeag Showtime proved too good for the British, with the Irish once again taking the gold.

The Junior 1.25m Open on the Thursday decided the placings for the 148s Team and the Irish filled four of the top six places in the class. James Derwin was the highest placed Irish rider with Bobby Dawn, but elected to ride his European Champion mount Rincoola Babog as anchor for the team. He was joined by Anna White with Tankardstown Dreamer, Ellen Power with Carrigeen Moores and Lauren Adams with Corradino du Bary. Despite their best efforts, they didn’t manage to give the Irish four from four, but they achieve a valiant joint second place behind a determined Scottish team.

Colm Widger and Barryroe Prince proved the best of the Irish in Sunday’s Fledglings 128 Handicap Championships. Jack Dore and Drumlin Lad finished fourth in the 128 Grand Prix and Anna White finished fifth with Tankardstown Dreamer, Alanna Fagan finished seventh on Kilkillahara Beauty and Mary Fitzgerald was eight on Rathduff Goodguy in the 148cm equivalent.

Also, in the ribbons was Josh Fitzgerald, Medb Kinney, Juliet McIntosh, Jack Derwin, Colm and Joe Widger.