THERE was no need for a jump-off last Sunday, as Benbulben recorded their first victory in the Horseware Team Show Jumping Championship final at the Dublin Horse Show.

Despite being based in Co Sligo, the quartet of Cara Conway (Cooley Are Cruising), Sarah Dunleavy (Lecarrow Silver Shadow), Deirdre Dolan (Roscrib Harry) and her twin sister Vanessa Sweeney (Woodbank Clover) had plenty of support in Simmonscourt, as they took on eight other teams.

Following round one, the Mill Road foursome of Robert Watters, Fran Denny, Hanna Bjoremark and Jennifer Denny were out in front on a zero score, followed by Benbulben and Greenhills, who were on four faults apiece, with last year’s winners, Carrickmines, just behind on five.

Cheval (eight) and Tinahely (14), the turn-out winners, were still in contention, but Headfort (26), Killcarrick (31) and North Cork (31) knew their fate at this stage.

Cheval had a terrible second round (40 faults), which dropped them right down the leaderboard while, in contrast, Headfort came back well, picking up just six faults for a two-round total of 32.

This resulted in them finishing sixth, just behind the three-rider Tinahely team, whose eight-fault second round saw them complete on 22. Amazingly, Carrickmines again picked up five faults to finish fourth on 10.

The two teams on four faults were next to jump. Greenhills, who won the Wildcard qualifier at the Association of Irish Riding Clubs’ Festival in Mullingar and have a great record at Dublin, added four faults to their tally and, ultimately, Eimear D’Arcy (Sharragh Watermill), Serena Alexander (Bonnie), Grainne Alexander (Cheeky Blonde) and Olwyn Alexander (Faline) were to place third.

When Benbulben went clear, the pressure piled on Mill Road. While just one of their four riders faulted in round one, three did so in round two, with the best result they could muster being eight faults, which dropped them to second and moved a delighted Benbulben squad to the top of the standings.

Honour

“We are absolutely thrilled to be the lucky winners of the AIRC Team Show Jumping Championships for 2024,” said the victorious team captain, Vanessa Sweeney, who recorded a double clear on Woodbank Clover. “To get the opportunity to represent Benbulben in the RDS was a huge honour for us all; to get to lift the trophy at the end was like a dream come true!

“We are extremely grateful to so many people for making this a reality – to the AIRC for affording us this amazing opportunity, our fellow clubs for their kindness and well wishes, to Horseware for their extremely generous sponsorship, our friends and family for years of unrelenting support, to our wonderful loyal steeds who have made it all possible, and finally but by no means least, to our wonderful club.

“The support shown to us by every member of the Benbulben Riding Club has been so heartwarming and means so much! We are so proud to be a part of such a wonderful organisation!”

Support

Chef d’equipe, Breda Perrin, added: “Richard Kerins of Tubberbride Stables played a key role with our preparations and training sessions, which really paid off. I was on the team in 2010 when we were placed third, so I was excited to be back as chef d’equipe and to be a part of this winning team. Benbulben is one of the largest clubs in Ireland and enjoys wonderful support from all of our members, who will be delighted with this result!”

Among the Benbulben officials in attendance on Sunday were Therese Anderson (chairwoman), Rachel Burke (secretary, who was on the club’s 2014 team), Joy Brett (safety officer) and Finola Murphy (grading officer).

Most of the team had their horses stabled close to Dublin, so that they didn’t have too far to travel on Sunday morning when they were allowed on site.

The nine-year-old Ringfort Cruise gelding Roscrib Harry was there a day earlier, as Deirdre Dolan partnered the grey to finish eighth in a very strong middle/heavyweight sportsman hunter class in Ring 1 on Saturday evening.

The presentation of prizes was made by the AIRC’s president, Leo Powell, assisted by the organisation’s Elaine Dunne. Long-term sponsor Horseware Ireland was represented by Sonja Overmayer.