THE cream of Ireland's young riders had the opportunity on pony championship day at the Kerrygold Horse Show yesterday to compete in the imposing expanses of the main arena.
Robert Power, whose father, Capt Con Power, is well acquainted with the Ballsbridge arena, having helped Ireland win consecutive Aga Khan trophies between 1976 and 1979, was hotly tipped to score in the opening 148 cm division, while Tina Barkley was aiming for three wins in a row in the 138 cm category.
Power (15), was a surprise omission from the team which left on Thursday to represent Ireland at the European pony championships in Denmark next week. He rode a brilliantly judged round when third to go in the jump off with Gain Radiant Kismet, shaving five seconds off the target time set by Joseph O'Brien and My River Queen.
Jordan O'Neill, the only rider to beat Power this week, challenged the Summerhill jockey again for the championship honours. But with the timing clock flashing 39.05, his round with Hunter's Folly was a fraction off Power's pace and kept him pinned back in second place.
Ballymoney jockey Tina Barkley failed in her bid to score a third consecutive 138 cm win when both of her ponies went out with faults in the second round of the championship. She was not alone, however, as just two of the nine ponies which were clear in the first round managed to retain their zero scores on their second appearance in the ring.
James Hogg was first to break the sequence of faults, bringing Little Logic around clear in 34.07. Carl Hanley was the only other rider to master the six fence course, and with his mount Vivo Darco's nose crossing the finish line on 34.07 the same time as the previous pony a division of the spoils was called for.
The 128 cm championship went to a four pony battle against the clock in which the final word went to Shane Dixon, last to go with Cushy Number. Haying won his qualifying event earlier in the week, the Galway jockey was hungry for a further taste of victory and cut 1/2 seconds off the target set by Joanne Waterson and Ballylucky.
In the young rider classifications, Trevor Bartlett scored a double heading the line up in the grades A and B class with Farenheight and taking the grades C and D division with Hill view Lad. The novice honours went to Neal Fearon and Kilduff Sable.
