AS the Connolly’s Red Mills/Irish Pony Club eventing series for 2024 draws to a close, two qualifiers were held last weekend, attracting entries from all around the country, as members sought their qualifying marks.

On Saturday, the Shillelagh Branch staged its qualifier at the Tinahely Riding Club grounds in Coolboy, where the Killinick and Offaly Branches were represented by two winners apiece. The Killinicks struck in the Intermediate, where Maggie Willet completed on her dressage score with the traditionally-bred Irish Sport Horse mare Sally Grey Gallough, a 13-year-old grey by Rebel Mountain. Hazel Slattery brought the double up in the Junior B, where she too completed on her first phase score with the Connemara mare Breolle Mist, an eight-year-old daughter of Banagher De Bregeon.

Flying the flag for Offaly were Emily Conlan on the 16-year-old bay gelding Clogheen Cody (Intro Intermediate) and Saoirse Carty with the 14-year-old grey gelding Sandy Banks (Junior C). Carlow’s Rosemary Dundon won the Junior A on the 17-year-old Kings Master mare Killags Foxy Lady; the Newcastle Lyons Branch got on the scoreboard in the Under 12s’ A thanks to the efforts of Louisa Daisy Dalton riding Thoroughly Miss Millie, while Kildare’s Mia Webbon topped the scoreboard in the Under 12s’ Section B on Bobbyjo.

The Area 5 qualifier was held on Sunday at the busy Co Cork venue of Ballindenisk, where their decision to run an Open class was poorly rewarded with just three entries. The comfortable winner was Laois Branch member Rachel Foley riding the former racehorse Allez Amour, a 12-year-old gelding by Milan. A Laois double was completed in the Junior A, where Charlotte Roe recorded a narrow victory on the 2021 European pony championships runner Silver Brog, a 21-year-old grey gelding by Puissance.

Three other Branches also recorded doubles. The West Waterfords struck in the Intermediate through Siofra Marsh on the 16-year-old S Creevagh Ferro gelding Macmacs Fist and in the following Intro Intermediate, where Caoillainn Foley topped the final leaderboard with the Traditionally-bred ISH gelding Monatrea Xavier, a 16-year-old Riyalan bay.

Scarteen members Micaela O’Brien and Sophia McGrath won Sections B and C of the Junior competition. The former did so on the 10-year-old 138cm gelding Cartoor Larry, while McGrath’s willing partner was Connies Way. Tipperary’s Lucy Meagher won Section A of the Under 12s’ class on the 12-year-old bay gelding Cosmic Call, while fellow Tipperary member Cara Hally claimed Section B on board the 16-year-old Templebready Bo’sun mare Ard Fhionain Spring Time.