THE pressure was on pony riders, children on horses and young riders, as they travelled to Mullingar last weekend in the hope of securing their tickets to the Dublin Horse Show.

First up were 62 hopefuls in the 148cm category, with seven places up for grabs. Taking the win was Leinster’s Susan Brannigan with the eight-year-old Imagine D’Argent, when they were quickest of four double clears in the 17-way jump-off. Resident rider Ted Fagan added to his impressive record when he took the runner-up spot with Ballyfore Rosie, when he came home in a time of 35.79. Less than a second separated the next placing, as James Cleary and Milchem Original came home in 36.77. Connaught’s Zara Sharkey and Iflex took fourth when they stopped the clock in 36.96, while in fifth was fellow Connaught rider, Cathal McKeon Devaney and Nokio, who had one on the ground in a very fast time of 33.56. Chantal Whitehead also had a pole on the ground with Alonsa, but in a slower time of 33.86, while in seventh was Lucia Keane and Rdjw Merclov, who finished on four faults in 34.22.