BRIAN Duff and his team at Broadmeadows Equestrian hosted a leg of the TRI Equestrian Interschools League last Sunday.
Loreto Wexford’s trip from the sunny south east was well worthwhile, when they took first place in the TRI Equestrian Open Teams competition. The team members were Wexford Wex Gal ridden by Amy Griffith, Bell’s Nugget and Isabel Walsh and A Little Bit Higher ridden by Hannah Rose Roche. The combined team from Glenart College and Gaelcholaiste na Mara were runners up. Berthrath Boy Beauty and Sophie Rhatigan, Sam Sallad and Jack Murphy, Ballyfore Lola ridden by Lucy Rhatigan and Fergus the Third and Caoimhe Spacey made up that team.
The TRI Open Individual class produced some great clear rounds. Sam Sallad ridden by Jack Murphy from Glenart posted the fastest time of 28.16 to take the red rosette and 10 points, ahead of Newbridge College’s Emilie Smith riding Milchem Allstar, who stopped the clock in 28.88. Loreto’s Isabel Walsh on Bell’s Nugget was third, with Glenart’s Caoimhe Spacey and Fergus the Third in fourth and Bonnie O’Neill on Red from Newbridge in fifth. All these were clear, so sixth place and the final league point went to the fastest four-faulter, Gael Colaiste Na Mara’s Lucy Rhatigan riding Ballyfore Lola.
Novice 90cm
The Equieire novice 90cm qualifier class was hotly contested. The honours went to Sophie Crosthwaite riding Lockside Buttercup for Loreto Dalkey, with Sean Fenton from St Michael’s on Blue in runner-up spot and Una Farrell on Khaleesi Stormborn from Tullow CS in third. The remaining rosettes were claimed by Tullow rider Lauren Bailey riding Prodigal Son, Moorepark Goldust and Amber Smith from Loreto Dalkey and Tamsin Haughey from Scoil Mhuire Trim and The Curious Man.
The Hopoti Novice Teams competition produced a four-way jump-off between the novice teams from Newbridge College, St Gerard’s Bray, Tullow CS and Loreto Wexford. Scoil Mhuire Trim claimed fifth spot with four faults. First place went to St Gerard’s Bray, represented by Chesterfield Erin ridden by Ali Condren, Harvey Ventura and Lily Malony, Cluain John Grey and Saoirse Di Biasi and Cloonan Hannah with Charlotte Dodd. Loreto Wexford’s Wynda Toby and Caithlin Griffith, Churchlands Liberty ridden by Freya Barry, Starlight Empress ridden by Aoife Griffith and The Limit and Amy Griffith slotted into second place, ahead of Newbridge College in third. La Vie Est Belle and Caton Fought, Sandybanks and Saoirse Carty, Scotchtown Rosie ridden by Eirwen Webbon and Blackjack ridden by Lauren O’Neill represented Newbridge. Fourth place went to Tullow CS. Lauren Bailey on Prodigal Son, Una Farrell on Khaleesi Stormborn, Sliabh Russian ridden by Muireann Tooher and Clonfinn Lola ridden by Caoimhe Curran were the Tullow team.
Novice individuals
The Hopoti Novice individual competition, open to both novice secondary school riders and primary pupils, was well supported. First place and the red rosette went to Shannon Griffith from Screen NS riding Curraghmore Sparrow. Shannon also took second place, this time riding Interstella. Peter Connolly on Rachel’s Rory from Castlepark NS was third. Newbridge College’s Saoirse Carty on Sandy Banks was fourth, with Sophie Crosthwaite and Lockside Buttercup from Loreto Dalkey in fifth and Loreto Wexford’s Freya Barry and Churchlands Liberty in sixth.
Last, but by no means least, Castlepark NS’s Peter Connolly, this time partnered with Highmead Song OD, took the honours in the EII Primary league class. Ciara Sarsfield and Telynau from Kilmore was second, ahead of Rathdown’s Nia Webbon and Blueoak Charlie in third.
Shankill House Equestrian Centre, Co Waterford had TRI Equestrian Interschools action too on the Bank Holiday Monday. At the time of going to press, results were not completed.
Action this weekend moves down to Wexford, where East Glendalough School are the hosts.