THE Midlands Region of the Association of Irish Riding Clubs held their championship qualifier on Sunday, May 5th, at the Mullingar Equestrian Centre where, from an entry of 13, a dozen squads started.

Dorothy O’Keeffe and Fiona Brady judged the action over the Michael Keaveney-built track which saw six teams return a zero score following two rounds of jumping in the Co Westmeath venue’s Sand Arena 1.The jump-off between the team captains was extremely tense.

First to go against the clock was Mo Chara Black’s Brian Dunne who picked up four faults in 47.04 on board Quarrycrest River Dancer. Next in, Headfort Orange’s Rachel Muldoon showed that Dunne’s time was easily beatable as she stopped the clock on 35.83 and, more importantly, left all the poles intact on Ballymotey Carla Vision.

With the gauntlet now thrown down, the remaining team captains had a real fight on their hands. Meath’s Liz Bloomer amassed eight faults in 44.40 on Cresties Matilda; Mo Chara Red’s Liam Keogh was home in a speedy 37.12 but had a fence down with Tara Emerald; and Headfort Grey’s bid to put pressure on their clubmates ended when Kim McInerney picked up four faults in 48.60 with Dicksgrove Bellatrix.

Last to go, Kilrainy Chieftains’ Roisin Gilsenan was in a double bind. To win an automatic invitation to the final at the Dublin Horse Show for her team, she had to go clear on Major Tom Franklin in a time quicker than 35.83. To ensure that she and her fellow Chieftains had a second bite of the cherry at the AIRC Festival, she had to ensure that she had no more than four faults with her seven-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding and in a time quicker than 37.12.

With her supporters roaring her on, Gilsenan went for a fast clear but although she left all the fences standing, her time of 38.11 was never going to trouble the Headfort Orange quartet who can now relax somewhat before Dublin. Meanwhile Gilsenan, her mother and club chairwoman May Gilsenan (Lisatara Hope), Evelyn Healion (Agreement) and Mary Flynn (Balrowan Clover) will have to prepare for the Wildcard qualifier which takes place at the Festival back in Mullingar over the weekend of June 8th and 9th.

Lining up to accept their winners’ rosettes from regional chairperson Ann Bloomer, alongside Rachel Muldoon on Ballymotey Carla Vision, were Headfort secretary and regional PRO Lynsey Rogers (Oreo Lad), Emer McNamee (Happy Chap) and Mary Govern (Roebuck Rascal). Also present was their equally delighted chef d’equipe Oisin Cooke of the Balrathboyne Stud near Kells where the club is based.

Having congratulated the Headfort Orange team members, Bloomer, who has since been elected vice chairperson of the AIRC, commented: “This has been a great competition with an exceptional six-way jump-off. There was a great atmosphere and it was wonderful to see all the support for the teams from their clubs. Here’s hoping that Kilrainy win the Wildcard qualifier so that we have two teams representing the Midlands Region at Dublin.”

As with all these qualifiers, there was a huge input from the regional committee, club committees and members.