EVENTING Ireland’s youth ambassador Molly O’Connor recorded two national wins in the period under review with Coolnaleen Rebel but, on 34 points, is lying second in the EI110 (P) league behind Co Wexford’s David Keatley and his mother Grace Wall Keatley’s Crosskeys Bella (48).

Keatley and the seven-year-old Connemara mare by Crosskeys Rebel posted their sole success to date in the EI110 (P) at Hillcrest (1) in April but have accumulated points through their many placings. O’Connor and her father Paul’s 13-year-old Rebel Mountain gelding initiated a hat trick of successes in the non-counting CCIP2-S at Ballindenisk in late April. The Co Down pairing then saw off eight rivals to win the EI110 (P) at Hillcrest (2) on Sunday, May 14th, and, seven days later, topped the 15-runner class at Kilguilkey House (1).

Two combinations are lying third on 32 points apiece. They are the dual European Pony team and individual medallists Ben Connors and Cornafest Fred and Co Down’s Rachel Fletcher with Lurgans Diamond Princess.

As mentioned elsewhere on this page, Connors had an excellent result in the CCI2*-S at Millstreet on the Connemara gelding Cornafest Fred, who is owned by his parents Kieran Connors and Michelle Nelson. However, for this league, the main counting results were his wins on the 10-year-old Gwennic de Goariva bay at Tyrella in early April and at Frankfort Stud roughly a month later. They finished third behind O’Connor and Coolnaleen Rebel at Kilquilkey.

Co Down’s Rachel Fletcher began competing under Eventing Ireland rules in the summer of 2021, winning what was then termed an EI90 youth training class, seeing off 14 rivals to claim the honours on her dressage score with Lurgans Diamond Princess.

That 15-year-old Carrick Diamond Lass mare, who is owned by the rider’s mother Helen, has brought Fletcher up through the ranks. Placed in three of their four previous EI110 (P) starts this season, we think even Rachel would agree that he earned a very handy 12 points for her uncontested victory at Rosanna (2).

Tight at the top

It’s close at the top of the Equipe Saddles Ireland EI100 (P) League where Kirstyn Reel currently leads the way with 34 points ahead of a trio of rivals on 30 points apiece.

A member of the Shillelagh Branch of the Irish Pony Club, Reel has earned the majority of her points through wins at Lisgarvan House in April and at Rosanna (1) in May on Nicola Hobson’s Connemara mare Glanmore Honey, a 10-year-old daughter of Mac Owen.

Those on 30 points are Co Wicklow’s Rosie Coad with Amaya Cowan’s Connemara gelding Ballylee Roller, a nine-year-old grey by Coill Rua Champ; Andrew Walsh with another Connemara, his mother Ann’s seven-year-old Burning Daylight gelding Battlestown Delight; and Izzy Barrett with her mother Kate’s seven-year-old Dutch riding pony Maserati of Holstud.

Just off the pace on 25 points is Muskerry Pony Club member Amelia Scott and her mother Eleanor’s traditionally-bred Gelato who, from four starts, won at Ballindenisk (1) and Grove. An 11-year-old gelding by the Connemara stallion Martan Phaidin Mhoir, the bay is out of the non-winning thoroughbred mare Annes Sound (by Mull Of Kintyre).

Co Down’s Jennifer Gilchrist holds a four-point lead in the Amerigo & Equipe Saddles EI90 (P) League with her father Daniel’s 13-year-old Avatar gelding Lackaghmore Vandango on whom she has yet to win this season but has been placed in all five starts, amassing 34 points.

Mentioned elsewhere, Ashbourne’s Kirsty Greene is lying second with her mother Clare’s six-year-old British-bred mare Our Girl (30 points) who won at the new venue of the McNally family’s Clonmahon House last month.

Two combinations share third place on 26 points, viz Molly Egan and Rebecca Coveney’s 18-year-old bay gelding Divine Fernando who has been place on all four starts this term, winning at Kilguilkey House (1), and the elsewhere-mentioned Western Region pairing of 13-year-old Oisin McDonagh and Ralph Conroy’s home-bred Milchem Illusion who won first time out at Rosanna (1).

One pony rider we must mention is Co Wexford’s Oscar O’Connor who, on board Chanel Van De Kleine Vlie, finished second to the above-mentioned Kirstyn Reel and Glanmore Honey in the EI110 (P) at Grove last Sunday, just days before being named on the Irish team for the European Pony Dressage Championships with Top Hero 2 or Veenstras Grapjas.