The 15-year-old Irish mare Solerina, bred by Dr Noel Cawley by Cruising out of a Diamond Lad mare, was a 1.45m winner last week for Cork’s Shane Sweetman in Wellington, Florida. She also placed in another 1.45m class that Shane won with his star of the series, Cyklon (Cardento x Cortus).

’s-Hertogenbosch

At last weekend’s Dutch show in ’s-Hertogenbosch, Jessica Kürten got back in a winning mode when taking the 1.50m accumulator on the KWPN stallion Arezzo VDL, who traces back to Heartbreaker. Denis Lynch and Coulisa came sixth in that and this new partnership were third in another speed event. Best of the Irish in the big ’s-Hertogenbosch Rolex Grand Prix was Bertram Allen on Ballywalter Farms’ grey mare Molly Molone V, by Kannan. They had one of just five first-round clears but two down against the clock dropped them to fifth behind French winner Kevin Staut on the great Silvana, by Corland. Marco Kutscher came second on Coronet Cristallo, by Coronet Obolensky.

Ireland qualifies for pony finals

Following last weekend’s competition at Addington in Britain, Ireland has qualified a pony dressage team for the Pony European Championships to be held in Millstreet at the end of July. The qualifying team are Katie Burns with Caracas II, Alana Cazabon Sullivan with Blackwood Dancer (CP) and Schermeer S Hof Ardensoog, and Linnea Larkin with Goofy.