THREE teams on zero battled it out for the honours at the JAG-hosted TRI Equestrian Interschools event last Sunday.

The Loreto Wexford team of Bells Nugget (Isabell Walsh), Cojorojo (Kate Jones), A Little Bit of Twinkle (Hannah Rose Roche) and Wex Gal (Amy Griffith) came out on top when posting a very fast time in the Open Team class, beating off a determined challenge from St Mary’s Naas in second and Kilkenny College in third, with just a second separating St Mary’s and Kilkenny.

World of Orestus (Lucy Gaffney), Zazu du Carel (Pippa Gaffney), Major Profile (Aimee Byrne) and Lenovo (Laura Butler) made up the St Mary’s team and North Star Hunter (Rachel McMonagle), Ferdie (Gloria Queally), Glenrock Lisa (Georgia Queally) and Donode Forget Me Not (Isobel Smithwick) represented Kilkenny.

Kimmy McCall from East Glendalough riding Vogue was a second and a half faster to claim the TRI Equestrian Open Individual event over Isabell Walsh riding Bell’s Nugget for Loreto. Fellow Loreto team member, Hannah Rose Roche and A Little Bit of Twinkle was third and, partnering Hop, was also fourth.

Pippa Gaffney riding Zazu du Carel was fifth and Isobel Smithwick from Kilkenny riding Donode Forget Me Not was sixth.

Aimee Byrne from St Mary’s Naas riding Major Profile in the TRI Equestrian Premier 1.10m qualifier class saw off Loreto’s Amy Griffith and Wex Gal to take the red rosette. Lucy Gaffney and World of Orestus from St Mary’s was third ahead of Morgan Leahy and Eitherard Lad from Ballinteer Community School.

Una Farrell and Khaleesi Stormborn from Tullow cemented her qualifying status when winning the Equieire novice 90cm qualifier. Olivia Condon from Newbridge College claimed a qualifying spot on Clooneybreen Poitin.

St Gerard’s Bray rider Charlotte Dodd on Cloonan Hannah also qualifies, as does Muireann Tooher and Slieve Rushen Don from Tullow, Tullow’s Cillian Tobin and Hershey’s Kiss and Caitlin Griffith from Loreto on WNDA Toby.

The Newbridge College team of three, Scotchtown Rosie (Eirwen Webbon), Clooneybreen Poitin (Olivia Condon) and Monty (Bena Marie Hickey) won the Hopoti Novice team’s class. Tullow’s team of Khaleesi Stormborn (Una Farrell), Lumcloon Max (Lauren Kehoe), Hershey’s Kiss (Cillian Toban), Slieve Rushen Don (Muireann Tooher), were runners-up, with Loreto Wexford in third.

Loreto was represented by Churchland’s Liberty (Freya Barry), WNDA Toby (Caitlin Griffith), Trickey Stephen D (Faye Howlin) and Starlight Empress (Aoife Griffith). Scoil Mhuire Trim, St Gerard’s Bray and another Newbridge Team were fourth, fifth and sixth. Newbridge College also won the Hopoti Novice 80cm individual class – Olivia Condon on Clooneybreen Poitin was the Newbridge representative. Peter Connolly from Castlepark NS riding Rachel’s Rory was the runner-up and riding Highmead Song and Dance was also third.

Shannon Griffith on Curraghmore Sparrow from Screen NS won the EII primary league class. Anna Sarsfield and Glenhead Summer from Kilmore NS was second, ahead of Peter Connelly again riding Rachel’s Rory in third. His brother Patrick riding Rio won the 55cm fun class. Emily Condon from Scoil Bride Milltown and Ballyrue Cracker was second and Zara Groves and Kelly’s young Hero from St Conleth’s and Mary’s was third.

Action this weekend is in Wexford, where Kilkenny College are the host.