Irish Ponies dominate at Southview Home Pony International

A huge contingent of Irish pony riders attended the English Home Pony International held at Southview over the Halloween weekend. Ghosts and ghouls were forgotten about as winning medals was the objective for the Irish teams.

The team competitions got underway at noon on Friday with the 128’s on first.  Representing Ireland was Jessica Kuehnle – Whinney Lass, Fionn Clarke –Alloy, Ann Marie Dunne –Snapwater Jack, Susan Fitzpatrick – The Silver Legend with reserve Holly Sweetnam –The Little Hero.

Drawn second to go the Irish quartet finished the first round on zero level pegg

ing with England, whilst Wales and Scotland were equal on four faults. The course was raised for the second round and once again Ireland and England finished on zero requiring a jump off for gold and silver, Wales jumped clear in the second round and with a total score of 4 took bronze with Scotland totalling 8 faults overall.  The jump off was one of the most electrifying ever witnessed, the supporters were in a frenzy as England’s Emily Ward jumped clear in 27.85, Jessica Keuhnle picked up 4 faults in 28.53, England then saw another clear from Ella Popely in 33.38, Fionn Clarke went clear in 31.81. Ireland got a reprieve when Jodie Hall McAteer picked up 8 faults in 32.34 as Anne Marie Dunne from Carlow jumped clear in 27.63 so as the last riders entered the arena it was going to go to the wire. Englands last rider jumped clear in 27.10 so with a huge amount of pressure on her shoulders Susan Fitzpatrick from Kilkenny, jumped clear in 25.11 and secured the gold medal for Ireland.

Ireland 0/0/0 84.35 – Gold, England 0/0/0 88.33 Silver.

As the presentations were being given out Matt the commentator was heard to say ‘what havn’t the Irish won this year?’

The 138 team of Tim MacDonagh –Strawberry Top, Lucy Allen – Lough Gill, Grace Allen –Scarletts Billy The Kid, Shane Dalton –Woodfield Future Star and Reserve Nathan Evans – Ballindooley Queen finished the first round on 4 faults ahead of the other three teams all on 8 faults. Ireland remained on 4 after the second round and took their second gold medal of the day leaving the other three teams to jump off for the other medals as they all stayed on 8 faults after the second round.  The jump off saw England winning silver and 

Wales taking bronze.

Tim MacDonagh –Strawberry Top 0/0

Lucy Allen – Lough Gill 0/0

Grace Allen – Scarletts Billy The Kid 4/0

Shane Dalton – Woodfield Future Star 4/ (Did not have to jump second round)

The English HPI host a 148 Debut team which is for riders who have never been on a 148 team and is a great competition both for bringing riders on and for those retiring pony riders it gives them some experience of team participation.  The Irish team was made up of Aoife Dooley –Vivantos, Jessica Patterson –I’m a Tom Boy, Amelia Hogan –Badda Bing, Shane Dalton –Garryndruig Gold Digger and Reserve Gavin Harley – Braveheart Warrior.  This time the Irish were drawn last to go and they completed the first round on a score of 8 faults equal with Wales but trailing England who were on zero. In the second round England picked up 4 faults but retained the Gold medal whilst Ireland picked up another 4 faults to finish on 12 faults to take the silver medal with Wales settling for bronze on a score of 28 faults.

The 148 teams were the last to go and this time Ireland were drawn first with their team of Tom Foley –Attyrory Clover Lily, Ciara Kennedy –Trefalin Talisman, Jeremy Sweetnam –Allihies Fir Baoi, Emma O’Dwyer –Jacknall Street and Reserve Kate MacDonagh –Bertas Clover. Ireland finished the first round on 4 faults tying with Wales with Scotland looking good on zero and England taking up the rear on 8 faults.  The second round saw a turn around as England did not incur any more faults and stayed on 8 to take the Silver medal just behind Scotland who having picked up 4 faults in the second round held this score to take their first Gold medal of the day.  Meanwhile Ireland and Wales picked up 12 faults in the second round and had to go to a jump off for the bronze medal.  The Irish team had a brilliant jump off and did not pick up any more faults and got the bronze medal whilst Wales added another 4 faults to their tally.

The Irish Chef D’Equipe Katy Saunders  was delighted with the performance of all the team riders both here and throughout the year and with a medal total of 11 gold, 1 silver and 2 bronze we have proved that’ we are a force to be reckoned with’.

These HPI shows are a great training ground and provide a wealth of experience for all the riders and as we look at the riders representing Ireland at the Europeans they have all competed at the Home Pony shows. Good luck to all in 2011.

Showjumping Ireland Leinster Regions Pony Finals 2010

A great number of riders turned out to compete for the 500 euro per class prizefund on offer in the Finals. In the 128cm 90cm Final Jack Foley on Hubba Bubba Licious took the honours in a winning time of 26.36 sec. The 138cm 1m Final was hotly contested with Kate Murray on Quantum QT fastest to the finish line in a time of 28.08 sec. Local rider James Callanan from Ballyfoyle on Barrettsstown Rascal succeeded in taking the red rosette in the 148cm 5/6 year old Final, with Eoghan Murphy on Go Go's Welcome coming home in a time of 35.93 to claim first prize in the 148cm 1.10m Final.  

  

  

 

Showjumping Ireland South Leinster Branch Horse & Pony Final 2010

The organisers of the South Leinster SJI Pony League Final 2010 were delighted with the final results of the league on last Sunday 19^th September 2010 “We have had a great feedback for the third year running of this event and the parents, pony riders and horse competitors came out in force to fight for the great prize money of  7,500 euros that was on offer at Raheen Na Gun, Kilkenny on Sunday 19^th September 2010.

2010 128cms RDS Winner and Pony Premier League Winner Susan Fitzpatrick took three of the six Pony League Finals with her 128cm pony, The Silver Legend, who also took the leading rider honors in the 128 1m league, and her 138cm pony Woodfield Spartacus also taking both 138 finals alongside the leading rider honors in the 138 1.10, she was however piped to the post in the 138 1m leading by the consistent Ellen Brennan on Bobby Jo . Victor Costello, son of  Larry Costello, the South Leinster Committee chairman,  was victorious in the 128cm 90cms Final on Ruthtown Speed and also took the leading Red Mills leading rider award for the 128cm 90 league. The 148 classes were won by local rider Pamela Brennan aboard Flika in the 1m  final and with Kevin Bartley on Cuffesgrange For Sure the I .10m final.  Neither of these two however were able to take the leading rider spoils with Eoghan Murphy aboard Bellcross Johny taking the 1m league and Sarah Fitzgerald aboard Costelloes Boy the 1.10!

Course Builder Pat Drennan made sure that the horse riders earned their extra points at Ger O’Brien’s all weather horse arena in Kilkenny. The technical tracks proved testing and in the 1m Horse Final  Sophie Cunningham came out victorious riding her own horse Guccie. Pat’s daughter Gemma, was runner up in the 1.10m horse final on God’s Gift, but could not catch amateur rider Gary Graham on Kilfane Inspiration who won the  1.10m Horse League Final in style. It ended up an all girl line up when local rider Ciara Morris from Wexford on Tykillen Impact was the third of the three horse champions taking the 1.20m class from Portuguese young rider Maria Vozone who is one of the stable jockeys for Marion Hughes. Third place going to Lisa O’ Farrell on her mother Aine’s Erkina Heather.

The event could not have taken place without  the great sponsorship from Young Motors Kilkenny, Smithwick Solicitors Kilkenny, Caulfields SuperValu , Kilkenny, Redmills Horscare 10 / SJI South Leinster Branch, Clear Round Catering and Uppercourt Manor Stud / Bishopslough Stables Bennettsbridge. Also a great vote of confident must be awarded to the committee of the South Leinster SJI and the League qualifier show committees for their continuous committement and dedication to the SJI South Leinster Leagues in 2010. Many thanks to all the competitors who followed the leagues all season and we do hope that more will join us to compete in 2011.

Sharon Fitzpatrick.

PRO SOUTH LEINSTER BRANCH SJI