IT was the turn of the young riders and Children on Horses to battle it out for the first qualifying tickets to the 2022 Dublin Horse Show on Sunday at The Meadows where, as usual, there was fierce competition among talented youngsters.

The first class of the day was the 1.25/1.30m young rider qualifier which saw 77 starters line out and it was Katie McEntee who claimed victory with Hip Girl. The pair came to the show in good form having won a Spring Tour Grand Prix earlier in the season and they delivered the best of six triple clear rounds in 34.43 seconds.

Claiming the runner-up slot was Alex Finney and Duco, clear in 35.56, ahead of Victoria Thompson and Armani Velvet, who was almost two seconds slower in 37.56. Morgan Carty and King of Troy followed closely behind, clocking 37.69, while slotting into fifth place was Jack Murphy, who was riding the eight-year-old Ballinteskin Gala, in a time of 38.09.

Last of the clears was Annie Gibson and Dasca Van Het Vijverbos in a time of 38.77 for sixth place.

A smaller field of 32 lined out in the 1.35/1.40m qualifier where victory went to Joshua Halford and Herle when they delivered the faster of the just two triple clears in a time of 46.56.

Cora Sharkey opted for a more cautious approach with the eight-year-old Lisboy Mermus and it paid off as she took the runner-up spot when they crossed the line in a time of 48 seconds. Marta Hughes Bravo and HHS Figero put in a good time of 44.54 but, with a pole on the floor, she had to settle for third place.

Slotting into fourth place was Tom Keville and Chimay, who had four faults in the final round in a time of 47.61, while in fifth place was Aisling McGuinness and Kilderrys Joint Venture, also finishing with four faults in 47.66. Conor McLaughlin and Kilbarron Rue were sixth with a fence down in the final round in 50.38.

Moran secures ticket

Having won the TRM Showjumpers Spring Tour Grand Prix league last month, Robyn Moran was back in the ribbons, claiming the win in the 1.10/1.15m young rider qualifier. Riding the seven-year-old Fortside Trend, she delivered a clear in 39.72.

It was a hotly contested class, with eight combinations maintaining clean sheets over the three rounds. Shauna Heslin and the six-year-old MC Crosskeys were over a second behind in a time of 40.92 for second place.

A clear from Alexandra Hourigan and the six-year-old Cuffesgrange Caballus, in 41.17, saw them take third place, ahead of Lucy Morton and Blueoak Legaland (7yo) in a time of 41.34.

Allison Flynn answered all the questions aboard the seven-year-old Jade FS, in a time of 44.32 for fifth place, while slotting into sixth place was Lidy O’Dea and CSF Jackpot (6yo) in a time of 53.04.

In the children on horses decider, four qualifying places were up for grabs. Taking first place and the first qualifying ticket was Conrad Sweeney and Ardragh Cordubh when they delivered a triple clear in a time of 30.77.

Alice Moloney followed closely behind with Cosima in a time of 31.70, ahead of fellow Kilkenny rider Conor Brennan and Jersey Girl, clear in 32 seconds. Taking the final slot in this class was Ruby Lily Gaines an Winsome Z, clear in a time of 32.26.