PREMIER PONY JUMPING AT COILOG
The sixth leg of the Pony Premier Series saw the action moving to Coilog Equestrian Centre where the standard of jumping continued to improve heading into the penultimate leg at Mullingar. Course designer Killian Clarke was in charge of narrowing the numbers in all three divisions and kept the pressure on riders to perform when each section went to three rounds.
Twenty six combinations went to post for the 128cm Premier Grand Prix with only ten of these keeping a clean sheet. A further eight negotiated the track without mishap to guarantee a jump off. Kerry McIvor played pathfinder and set an impressive target when supplying a fault free round in 36.11 which would prove good enough for eventual second place.
The pressure was on the following riders to better this score and the fast pace encouraged the under twelves to throw caution to wind. Thomas Foley proved out of luck with Muskerry Crusader with two errors which proved sufficient for the green rosette on this occasion.
Tim McDonagh upped the pace aboard Wohld Copper who broke the 36 second barrier when coming home in 35.43 with nothing to add to secure the victory and finished the day off in style when slotting his second mount, Rotherwood Dinky Toy, into fifth.
Lucy Allen gained valuable points when a steady clear from Lurgan Darragh slotted them into third position in the line up.
Tim McDonagh & Wohld Copper
A total of twenty nine starters lined out for the 138cms equivalent with only nine of these leaving the course as they found it. Only one combination faulted on their second time out resulting in an n even eight through to the round against the clock.
The lead changed hands a number of times before Bertram Allen logged a fault free round in a time of 35.12 on Lough Gill which remained unrivalled.
Eoin McMahon took the runner up position on the relatively inexperienced Bric A Brac while next to cross the line was Emma O’ Dwyer aboard Hopala just over a second in arrears for the yellow rosette.
Bertram Allen & Lough Gill
Thirty riders turned out to take on the 148cms Premier Grand prix and nearly half made it through to a second round. Eight of these repeated their first round performance to earn a spot in the jump off. With the course now standing at a formidable height only two riders managed to navigate the course without error.
Tom Foley & Dibidoe
Neil Maguire recorded the first triple clear and stopped the clock at 44.07 with Walter Reapes entire Papillon which proved only good enough for the runner up position when Tom Foley bettered the time on Dibidoe for the victory. Hayley Dunne put in a superb effort with Kiltormer Grey breaking the beams in 37.17 but a single error relegated the pair to third place
The penultimate qualifier for the Starfinder final at the National pony and Young Rider Championships saw Kate McDonagh emerge victorious with the six year old stallion Imagine If One coming home with over two seconds in hand from nearest rivals Eoin McMahon and Moyrella Exchange.
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