Carlow rider is champ at Cahir indoor finals

Ponies and young riders

Frank Mulvihill

The finals of the indoor pony show jumping league at O'Gorman's Equestrian Centre in Cahir Co Tipperary got underway last Saturday with the 128D class in which two local riders, Christopher Ryan from Borrisoleigh and Darragh Ryan from Thurles, made it into the jump-off.

First-to-go Christopher set a good pace on the six-year-old Johnstown Fredddie, and although Darragh did his best to beat the time of 28.41 with another six-year-old, Mill Road Butterfly, it was the Borrisoleigh rider who came out best.

Three riders made it to the clock round in the 128CD final where Ann Marie Sheridan and Dawn Misty had a steady clear round to put pressure on her opponents. Runner-up in the 128D final, Darragh Ryan, was well up to the task as he moved into the lead with Mill Road Butterfly but his time of 31.91 was shattered by last-to-go David Kealy from Bennettsbridge in Kilkenny on the nine-year-old Our Little Butterfly.

The 128ABC final proved to be a tough one with just Lynn Ryan and Tullibards Bungi leaving all fences intact to win the class and take the lion-share of the prize money back to Ballinamult in Co Waterford.

Peter Moloney (Rathdrum Castle), Padraig Quinn (Buffy The Vampire), Kelly Dwane (Springhill Twinkle), and Enya Long (Scarlet Fire) all had four faults in the 138D final and it was a cool head by Roscrea rider Daniel O' Brien with Jack's Snip which won the class with a lovely clear round.

The 138CD final produced six clear rounds with three of those repeating their clean sheets in round two.

Ultimately, it was Kelly Dwane from Kilrosanty in Waterford who won the class with the six year-old Springhill Twinkle. The pony is owned by young Sarah Connors, the niece of multiple national champion, Francis Connors.

Leading rider

It was that young talent Peter Moloney, from Colligan near Dungarvan, who came out best in the 138 Open final. Peter, who was also awarded Leading Rider of the finals, had the only clear round on his consistent seven-year-old, The Brother.

Best turned out

Moloney opened the 148D jump-off with a fast clear in 17.87 on Jimmy Iver's Shaft's Golden Eye which proved good enough to win the class. Emilio Scala (The Teddy Boy) from Carlow took a close second and also won the award for the ‘Best Turned Out' at the show.

Tobin steals it

The last novice class of these finals saw seven ponies going through to the barage. It looked as if Aisling Ryan from Borrisoleigh was going to win this on Miss It from her early draw with a fast time of 31.48, but Niamh Tobin and Baby Bop from Clonmel had different ideas. The pair, who were drawn late in the jump-off shaved one-and-a-half seconds off the time to take the winner's rosette.

Scala by a whisker

Alan Wade's 148ABC course brought the best out of the 148 open ponies and riders, and despite some good performances, just two went clear. In the jump-off Emilio Scala and Tenby returned with three faults despite some impressive jumping, and when Peter Moloney and Baussy Jones were clear to the last it appeared to be all-over.

However, the seven year-old grey gelding hit the back bar of the final oxer and handed the final to the Bagnalstown rider by the narrowest of margins.