The Irish invasion of the Welsh Home Pony International took place over the 22nd to 26th July where the pony athletes certainly left their mark.
Hosted by the Broome family at their Cricklands base, nestled between Chepstow and the Severn Bridge, there were six arenas in operation all day every day producing great jumping. Rafael Suarez, now a native of Northern Ireland had been drafted in to accompany Ian Clark and the other course designers.
The team qualification classes began on Wednesday and were held in the main grass arena with the 128 Open commencing at 8.00am. Ireland claimed the top three placings in this class with Tom Wachman on ‘PARC Epic’ taking the win ahead of Darragh Sharkey on ‘Lisboy Black Magic’ and Ellie Rose Cassidy with ‘Little Ceaser’. This success continued in the 138 Open as Jason Foley took first and second on ‘Bear Me In Mind’ and ‘Buttons Two’ ahead of Harry Allen and ‘Scarletts Billy The Kid’ in third. Continuing with the dominance of the Irish Charlotte Houston and ‘Blessington Grange Mist’ took the honours in the 148 Oakley just pipping Patrick Hickey and ‘Shercock Rose’ into runner up ahead of Robbie Clancy on ‘I’m A Tom Boy’ with Jason Foley and ‘Lyncott Fancy Pants’ taking fourth.
Thursday saw the team qualification classes move to Superflex One and continue in the same vein as the previous day. Tom Wachman did the double in the 128 Open class when taking his second win of the show on PARC Epic with Max Foley and ‘Sparkel’ finishing in third. Foley’s older brother Jason repeated his day one performance when taking first and second again in the 138 Open on ‘Buttons Two’ and ‘Kiltormer Hero’. Heading the Irish in the 148 Oakley was Carla McGarry and ‘Chocolarto’ ahead of Jason Foley and ‘Lyncott Fancy Pants’.
Friday was scheduled to be team day, but as South Wales was subjected to very heavy rain the decision was made to postpone this feature event until Saturday which proved to be a wise move as the wet weather gave way to glorious sunshine.
The 128 Irish quartet was made up of Max Foley ‘Sparkel’, Ellie Rose Cassidy ‘Little Ceaser’, Darragh Sharkey ‘Lisboy Black Magic’ and Tom Wachman ‘PARC Epic’, who finished the first round in front with a zero score ahead of Scotland on twelve and England and Wales both sharing sixteen. In the second round Foley, Cassidy and Sharkey all jumped clear leaving Wachman not having to jump as Ireland won their first Gold medal of the day on a zero score. England moved up to Silver on twenty faults.
Drawn last to go in the 138 team event Ireland were represented by Jason Foley ‘Kiltormer Hero’, Max Wachman ‘Dycott Masterman’, Leah Stack ‘Amber Leaf’ and Harry Allen ‘Scarletts Billy The Kid’. Simulating the 128 team this squad all jumped clear throughout to claim the second Gold medal of the day with a run- away victory over nearest rivals England who had to settle for silver with four faults.
In the 148 division Ireland were forced into a jump off as the team of Jason Foley ‘Lyncott Fancy Pants’, Carla McGarry ‘Chocolarto’, Patrick Hickey ‘New Forge Lady’ and Charlotte Houston ‘Blessington Grange Mist’ tied with England as both nations completed the two rounds on a zero score. The jump off went right to the wire as the young Irish athletes chased the hat trick – Foley jumped clear as did Robert Murphy for England, McGarry picked up four faults as did Henry Truelove, Hickey also picked up four but so did Lucy Carver, last to go for Ireland Houston rolled a pole so with baited breath the last English rider Jodie Hall McAteer entered the arena only to have two rails fall with a gasp from the English and a roar from the Irish the third Gold medal had been won.
This was a great achievement from the Irish pony athletes who rode with accuracy and professionalism way ahead of their years.
Sunday saw the return of the atrocious weather conditions and many of the Irish opted to go for the early ferry, but making their stay worthwhile were the Foleys as Jason took first and second in the HOYS qualifier with ‘Bear Me In Mind’ and ‘Kiltormer Hero’.
Overall the Irish were a force to be reckoned with as many of the athletes featured in most of the classes, proving that the production system in Ireland is working to prepare these youngsters for the bigger stage.
Credit must be given to all our pony athletes and their supporters who made the trip so successful. For a full list of prize winners click:http://www.theshowground.com/wales-and-west.html