Five riders from Donegal’s two affiliated branches of the Irish Pony Club competed for the county at the Irish Pony Club’s Area 6 qualifier held in Sligo on Sunday past.
East Donegal PC’s Éabha Brennan on BSH Golden Boy, Tara Brennan on Carnone Annabelle and Ellie Simms on Carnone Diamond Beach pulled off superb showjumping rounds, resulting in their team placing 2nd in the 1m Team Showjumping competition, qualifying them for the Championship Final which takes place in Wexford in July. In the Individual Open Showjumping competition Tara Brennan placed 1st and Simms finished in 2nd place, giving them both a double qualification.
The trio – all riding horses bred or produced by Convoy’s Simon Scott – are well established in the equestrian circuit, this being the 5th consecutive year that the Brennan sisters and 4th consecutive year that Simms will represent Area 6 (counties Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Mayo, Roscommon & Longford) in the National Championships.
South Donegal Pony Club’s Sarah Meehan on Woody, and Ríonach Haughey on Sadhbh, made their debut at the Championship qualifier with both girls competing in the Novice Combined Training competition. They rode impressive dressage tests but tight competition in the showjumping element meant they missed out on the highly coveted qualifying positions.
Tara Brennan – Carnone Annabelle
Ellie Simms Carnone Diamond Beach
Sarah Meehan & Riģonach Haughey, South Donegal Pony Club
Eabha Brennan BSH Golden Boy
