Hot competition as first RDS places of 2022 are decided at The Meadows

AN air of optimism came to the Meadows over the weekend of May 7 and 8, as athletes from all over the island of Ireland travelled to the Lurgan complex for the first qualifier for Pony, Children on Horses and Young Rider classes for the 2022 Dublin Horse Show, annually staged by the Royal Dublin Society.

Having a busy day on Saturday, local riders Lily Tunney, Camryn Clarke, Elizabeth McCracken, Zara Jane Kelly, Liam Concannon and Medb Kinney booked their places in the pony finals later this summer.

Sunday saw the turn of the young adults, as the Young Rider categories were decided. Under the watchful eye of RDS appointed designer Aaron McCusker, riders were tested to the max to make sure those getting their hands on the coveted entry forms were truly deserving recipients. Congratulations to regular competitors Katie McEntee, Alex Finney and Victoria Thompson, who placed first, second and third respectively in a gruelling 1.25/ 1.30m class. Also booking her place at the RDS was Lucy Morton, in the 1.10/1.15m Young Rider Qualifier.

RESULTS

RDS Pony, Young Rider and Junior Equitation Qualifiers

Saturday, May 7

148 RDS Qualifier: 1) Jim Derwin’s Rincoola Babog, James Derwin; 2) Edel Dore’s Sparkling Lackaghmore Joey, Kian Dore; 3) Ella Grant’s Saxton Freedam, Coen Williams; 4) Sinead Brennan’s MHS Glow, James Brennan; 5) Gabriel Tunney’s Fireman, Lily Tunney; 6) Sandra Duffy’s Little Smithe, Katie Nallon.

138 RDS Qualifier: 1) Foleys Ponys’s Mayfly Green Peter, Ruben Foley; 2) Mary Boland’s Mayfly Black Pennell, Annie Boland; 3) Dale Adams’s Riot Del Pegulil, Lauren Adams; 4) Judy Quirke’s Blackwood Killamaster, Juliet Quirke; 5) Jim Derwin’s Ruby Brown, James Derwin; 6) Breda McMunn’s ET Hop De Naelle, Cian McMunn.

138 6/7-Year-Old RDS Qualifier: 1) Kenneth Rush’s Zanzi Boy Van Sunset, Harry Rush; 2) Shane Hawkins’ Ballyduff Lad, Alayna Hawkins; 3) Sparking Equine’s Sparkling Kiowa Moon, Zara- Jane Kelly; 4) Martin and Tracy Kelly’s Lurganmore Little Rocket, Caitlin Kelly; 5) Alison Cummins’s Cill Na Mona Babe, Tiernan Cummins; 6) Caroline Widger’s Grantstown All Action, Jack Kent.

128 RDS Qualifier: 1) Robert Fagan’s Kiltormer Ruby, Ted Fagan; 2) Fiona Boland’s Sasha (HPA), Thomas Meagher; 3) Katheryne McCracken’s Uquam d’Emery PFS, Elizabeth McCracken; 4) David Keeling’s Hollycreek Oran Splendour, Alanna Keeling; 5) Foleys Ponys’s The Silver Legend, Lucy McCarthy; 6) Robert Fagan’s Dooneens Electric, Ted Fagan.

128 6/7-Year-Old RDS Qualifier: 1) Denise Keegan’s Creevagh Pringles, Liam Concannon; 2) Niki Taylor’s Leiiaish Lady Penelope, Medb Kinney; 3) Shane Hawkins’s Carraghy Apollo, Alayna Hawkins; 4) Paula Widger’s Poynstown Little Albert Einstein, Colm Widger; 5) Gail McKeon’s Teelins’s Lavander Lady, Cathal McKeon-Davaney; 6) Gail McKeon’s Pillheath Camellia, Cathal McKeon-Davaney.

148 6/7-Year-Old RDS Qualifier: 1) Pamela Shortall’s Bungi, Aine Shortall; 2) Feargal White’s Tankardstown Dreamer, Anna White; 3) Edwina O’Connor’s Glean Princess, Ciara O’Connor; 4) Pat Greene’s Tinnecarrig Quick Step, Jill Greene; 5) Kathryn Lynch’s Lahorna You Two ISH, Kate Lynch; 6) Joe McMahon’s Western Ranger, Gary Dooley.

Sunday, May 8

1.25/ 1.30m YR RDS Qualifier: 1) Stephex Stables’s Hip Girl, Katie McEntee; 2) Jean Finney’s Duco, Alex Finney; 3) Victoria Thompson’s Armani Velvet, Victoria Thompson; 4) Sandra Duffy’s King Of Troy, Morgan Carty; 5) Valerie O’Reilly’s Ballinteskin Gaia, Jack Murphy; 6) Caroline Gibson’s Dasca Van Het Vijverbos, Annie Gibson.

1.35/ 1.40m YR RDS Qualifier: 1) Louise Halford’s Herle, Joshua Halford; 2) Joseph Sharky’s Lisboy Mermus, Cora Sharkey; 3) Marion Hughes’s HHS Figero, Marta Hughes Bravo; 4) Eugene Keville’s Chimay, Tom Keville; 5) Hazel McGuinness’s Kilderrys Joint Venture, Aisling McGuinness; 6) Ray McLaughlin’s Kilbarron Rue, Conor McLaughlin.

Children on Horses RDS Qualifier: 1) Bob Sweeney’s Ardragh Cordubh, Conrad Sweeney; 2) Tom Moloney’s Cosima, Alice Moloney; 3) Sinead Brennan’s MHS Jersey Girl, Conor Brennan; 4) James Reeves’s Winsome Z, Ruby Lily Gaines; 5) Carroll Produce Ltd’s Kabran De Reve Z, Claudia Carroll; 6) Clare Hughes’s ESI Carvalho, Isobel Hourigan.

1.10/ 1.15m YR RDS Qualifier: 1) Fortside Farms’s Fortside Trend, Robyn Moran; 2) Finola Heslin’s MC Crosskeys, Shauna Heslin; 3) Alma Hourigan’s Cuffesgrange Caballus, Alexandra Hourigan; 4) Joanne Morton’s Blueoak Legaland, Lucy Morton; 5) Linda Flynn’s Jade FS, Allison Flynn; 6) Martin O’Dea’s CSF Jackpot, Lidy O’Dea.

Junior Equitation Under 138cm: 1) Emma Chilcot’s Lisross Tormey, Isabelle O’Canaola; 2) Anne-Marie O’Neill’s Jedi Skywalker, Emily O’Neill; 3) Martina McCrory’s Birchill All Star, Kaitlin McCrory; 4) Heather Blair’s Moyons Dun Deal, Kitty Cullen; 5) Anne-Marie O’Neill’s Diamonds Sunshine, Ryan O’Neill; 6) Hazel O’Flynn’s Just Gin, Jack O’Reilly.

Junior Equitation Over 138cm: 1) Niall Fearon’s Murphy, Hannah Fenelon; 2) Joanne Morton’s Ferro Firework, Lucy Morton; 3) Nicola Burns’s Tullymurry Sunshine, Emma Burns; 4) Carolyn Bermingham’s Lyncott Corey B, Robyn Fitzgerald; 5) Edna Gamble’s Tommy Boy, Ted Gibson; 6) Roisin Corkery’s Spice Meister, Ciara Lawton.