Cavan Equestrian centre hosted the first of this year’s Home Pony Internationals over the weekend of 9th – 12th July. Following tradition Marinus Vos joined Stuart Clarke, Alistair Megahey and Alan Lynch as course designer for the main arena throughout the show. Whilst the weather varied between sunshine, clouds and drizzle the conditions in the main grass arena were superb and as always Vos utilised the undulating ground to maximum effect.
The action began early on Thursday morning with the first of the team selection classes and continued until Friday evening when all the teams were selected. Unfortunately with a decline in the number of overseas visitors it was decided to turn the 138cm and 148cm team events into regional teams as there were not enough competitors from any of the other regions to remain as International. In the Under 10 and 128cm team categories there were three teams battling it out as England and Scotland were able to field teams for this.
Another change in the format saw the 148cm team event start the proceedings where the four regions were very well represented with Chef D’Equipes appointed to each. Leinster appointed Michael Condon, Munster – Adrian Williams, Connaught – Johnathan Reape and Ulster – Alo McEntee. This worked well as there was also healthy rivalry between the team leaders. After the first round Leinster and Connaught were equal on four faults with Ulster on eight, Munster on twelve and the mixed visiting team on twenty. The equality remained after the second round creating the need for a jump off between Leinster and Connaught, as only one athlete was to take on this challenge, Cora Sharkey and ‘The Galway Blazer’ were nominated for Connaught and Kate Derwin ‘Vales Blue Melody’, the Leinster representative. Sharkey produced a very fast looking clear in 47.62 only to be beaten by Derwin as she steered her pony home clear in 42.31 to a rapturous applause. A mystery benefactor had put up a prize for the leading Team Leader, at this stage Condon was one up having gained the first gold medal of the day with his Leinster team of Jason Foley – ‘Lyncott Fancy Pants’ 0/0, Kate Derwin – ‘Vales Blue Melody’ 0/0/0, Sean Monaghan – ‘Springhill Rebellious’ 4/0 and Kayleigh Soden – ‘Boolagh Gypsy Boy’ 8/0.
The 138 team event saw all four regions remain on a zero score after the first round where unfortunately the visiting team were eliminated. With the fences raised for the second round the picture changed and only Ulster and Leinster remained on zero forcing yet another jump off. Charlotte Houston and ‘Woodfield Superstar’ were the Ulster nominees whilst Leinster was represented once again by Kate Derwin this time on ‘Sligo Lux To Queeney’. Derwin was first to go and set the target at clear in 44.17, Houston gave it all she had and was marginally ahead on time until a turn didn’t materialise and picked up four faults, leaving Leinster the gold medal winners for the second time and Condon as clear Team Leader. Leinster were made up of Jason Foley – ‘Kiltormer Hero’ 0/0, Kate Derwin – ‘Sligo Lux To Queeney’ 0/0/0, Harry Allen – ‘Fountain Ranger’ 0/4 and Leah Stack – ‘Amber Leaf’ 0/0.
Reverting to normal practice were the Under 10 Teams where three teams competed in this event, Ireland, England and Scotland, the first two of these lying equal on four faults after the first round with the latter on eight. Scotland picked up another 4 faults to finish in Bronze position on twelve faults as England and Ireland remained equal on four faults creating the need for a jump off. The English nominated Emily Wright on ‘Billy Two Rivers’, one of the many Irish exports competing at the show, but as this combination picked up four faults there was silence as the Irish representative Leo Dunne on ‘Parc Popper’ carried the weight of the team on his very young shoulders knowing that a clear round would secure the victory. This pair rode an incredibly mature round and left everything standing as the crowds went mad, Ireland had won their first Gold medal of the season. The team was Kian Dore – PARC Pixie EF/0, John M Kirrane – Billibob 0/0, Leo Dunne – PARC Popper 0/0/0 and Olivia Shanahan – Baronagh Boy 4/0.
In the 128 division the Irish quartet of PARC Lolita – Rhys Williams, Katie Power – Remington Steal, Darragh Sharkey – Lisboy Black Magic and John McEntee – Star Spangled Banner, rode like true professionals as they all completed on a zero score over the two rounds securing a second Gold medal for the home nation with England picking up silver on four faults and Scotland Bronze with eight.
On Sunday the action returned to the main grass arena for the four Grand Prix’s, where Kian Dore at only eight years of age riding PARC Pixie clinched the first title of the day when storming home in the Under 10 Grand Prix ahead of Katie McEntee on Supersonic.
The 128 Grand Prix had twelve combinations into the jump off which proved to one of the best classes witnessed in a long time. Erin Crawford and Drumcaghey Jacko were first to go and set an unbeatable target of clear in 34.66 which was never caught. Closest to this was Ashley Dunne riding Wingland Heloise, this pair completed on a zero score in 35.58 with third place going to Max Foley on Sparkel, also clear, their time of 38.20.
In the 138 category the athletes were competing for the Brian Taggart Memorial trophy, with seven through to the jump off this proved to be a very hot class. Harry Allen was first to go on Scarletts Billy The Kid, they remained clear in 36.94, Ciara Nallon third in on Buttons Two took over the lead in 34.45, Allen came back on his second ride Fountain Ranger and had to settle for third in 34.83 with last but one to go Jason Foley on Bear Me In Mind snatching the win in 33.51. Foley was presented with the winning rug a beautiful sash courtesy of Ballywalter Farms very generous sponsors of all the Grand Prix’s, a lovely rosette and the coveted Brian Taggart Memorial Trophy in memory of a great supporter of show jumping.
Concluding the action was the 148 Kerry Turkington Memorial Grand Prix where eight combinations completed Vos’s track on a zero score. Only two of these remained on a zero score with Ciaran Nallon coming out with the fastest time when bringing ‘Prince Of Ladytown’ home in 47.52 seconds ahead of Patrick Hickey and ‘New Forge Lady’ 49.61. Third place went to Kate Derwin and ‘Springhill Annora’. Kerry was also a great supporter of pony show jumping and would have been so pleased with the high quality competition throughout the show.
The next Home Pony International action takes place at Wales and West from 22nd July until 26th July where we wish all the best to the many Irish representatives taking part.
Editorial: Katy Saunders.