THE much-anticipated TRI Equestrian Interschools Final was held on a day of brilliant sunshine at Coilog Equestrian Centre,where the Byrne family and Equestrian Interschools Ireland were the hosts. There was great jumping action across two arenas and representatives of TRI Equestrian and Equieire were in attendance. Laurence Dunne of Jumpinaction was in attendance also to photograph all the action.

The TRI Equestrian open team championship saw a number of teams in contention for the championship and league honours. Newbridge College, The King’s Hospital, Kilkenny College and Bridgetown College all posted zero scores to qualify for the jump-off and it was the Newbridge College team, who posted the fastest time to take the championship win on the day.

Newbridge was represented by Gorm (Lucy McCarthy), Mascallero Z (Eva O’Neill), Rico (Sarah Gorey) and Blessington Prince Royal (Ellen O’Neill). The runner-up spot went to the team from Bridgetown: Lily Bell of Tullykittagh (Noah Sinnott Murphy), Untouchable Royale (Owen Carroll), Breolie Mist (Hazel Slattery) and Catch me now (Lily Walsh). Third place went to The King’s Hospital, represented by Cara Silver Bells (Sasha Perrin), Hogan the Brave (Abigail Kenny), Ravensdale Rossi (Brooke Kenny) and Castlegannon Tara (Marina Bolton), with the Kilkenny College team in fourth place. Carraun Ferdy (Georgia Queally), Glenrock Lisa (Gloria Queally), Donode Don’t Forget (Isabel Smithwick) and Kilpatrick Sparkle (Alanna Bailey) made up the Kilkenny Team.

Fifth place was claimed by the fastest four-faulters, Loreto Wexford: A Little Bit of Twinkle (Hannah Rose Roche), Bells Nugget (Isabell Walsh), Cojorojo (Kate Jones) and Wex Gal (Amy Griffith), with St Mary’s New Ross: Redhouse April’s Pearl (Ava Donovan), Milchem Havana (Eva Kent), Tomello (Katie Costello) and Autumn (Martha Power) in sixth place. St Mary’s New Ross also were deemed best turned out.

St Mary’s sixth place finish was sufficient for the school to claim the TRI Equestrian open teams league by the slimmest of margins from Loreto Wexford in second. These two schools have been neck and neck all season. Bridgetown College’s second place moved it up to third in the league. Kilkenny College took fourth. Borris College and Gorey CS were fifth and sixth. The top five schools have now qualified for the Bluegrass Horse Feed-sponsored open team championship to be held at Balmoral Show in May, with Gorey in reserve.

Open individual

That competition was followed by the TRI Equestrian open individual decider, with 30 combinations lining up. The championship competition on the day was claimed in great style by Sophie Rhatigan from Glenart College riding Bertragh Boy Beauty. Ronan Gilvarry had a worthwhile journey from Headford, Co Galway, when he claimed the runner-up slot. He rode the Hilly Billy.

Mia Kent riding Queenies Cornet from St Mary’s New Ross was third, ahead of Goodwins Emoji ridden by Lucy Rhatigan for Gael Scoil Na Mara, Breolie Mist, Hazel Slattery from Bridgetown and Isabell Walsh and Bells Nugget from Loreto Wexford. Abigail Kenny from King’s Hospital riding Hogan the Brave was best turned out.

Loreto’s Isabell Walsh’s sixth place finish was sufficient for her to claim the league. Mia Kent from St Mary’s New Ross was second, ahead of Gorey’s Amber Farrell in third. The final league placings went to Sophie Rhatigan, Ronan Gilvarry and Loreto’s Hannah Rose Roche.

The TRI Equestrian premier 110 attracted 26 entries, of which nine combinations made it through to the jump-off. Noah Sinnott Murphy riding Lily Bell of Tullykittagh, representing Bridgetown College, gave all to post the fastest time and claim the class. Not far behind him was Borris’s Rosemary Dundon and Killag’s Foxy Lady to secure the runner-up slot and Loreto Dalkey’s Jessica Kinsella and CES Sonny James was third. That combination also won the best turned out prize. St Mary’s Naas rider Lucy Gaffney riding World of Orestus, Alexandra’s Hazel Walsh and Fortside Golden Riot and Jack Murphy riding Sam Sallad from Glenart College were fourth, fifth and sixth.

Novice 90cm

The very popular Equieire novice 90cm class was the largest of the day with 43 entries. It ran as the last class in this arena. Muireann Tooher riding Slieve Rushen Don from Tullow emerged victorious, just ahead of Loreto Dalkey’s Amber Smith by the slimmest of margins. Amber rode More Park Gold Dust. Katie Kavanagh from Dominican College Wicklow riding King Carra Mia was third.

Cloonan Hannah, ridden by Charlotte Dodd from St Gerard’s, Bray, Una Farrell and Khaleesi Stormborn from Tullow and Rebecca Colfer and Kestrel’s Jenny Wren from Ramsgrange were fourth, fifth and sixth. Kitty Donoghue and Castlebin Split were adjudged best turned out. Kitty represents St Killian’s College, Ballinasloe.

Novice teams

The second arena hosted the other novice classes and the primary classes. The Hopoti novice teams championships attracted all the teams in contention for the league, as well as others hoping to feature in the championship class on the day.

The Ramsgrange CS team - Achill (Brooke Sutton McGarry), Bridgetown Dancer (Caitlin Colfer), Kestrel’s Jenny Wren (Rebecca Colfer) and Annie Gamble (Niamh Colfer) - was delighted to win the novice team championship. Scoil Mhuire Trim Red: Sizzling Sisco (Bridget Corcoran), Moonlight Molly (Aine Corcoran), Laune’s Mist (Grace Rennick) and Glandoran Girl (Catherine Prendergast) were second.

Presentation Headford’s journey from Co Galway was well worthwhile, when they took third in the championship. Technical Tom (Dara Reynolds), Dromalga Darcey (Amelia Dobrowolska), Belle our Folden heartbreaker (Claudia Reilly) and Kilwatermoy Lady (Eva Connell) represented Headford. Loreto Wexford, Wesley College and Bridgetown College took the minor placings. Presentation Thurles were best turned out.

Loreto’s fourth place was sufficient for them to win the overall league. Tullow CS, not placed on the day, still had sufficient points to finish second, as did St Gerard’s Bray, Ramsgrange and Newbridge College in third, fourth and fifth. Scoil Mhuire Trim’s second place on the day moved it up to sixth in the league.

The Hopoti novice individual championship was won by Curragh ET’s Jack Hargaden and PJ, ahead of Amber Smith and Moorepark Goldust from Loreto Abbey. Sarah O’Connor and Halston Lupin from Loreto Fermoy was third.

Primary

The EII primary championship saw Shannon Griffith from Screen NS place first and second on Interstella and Curraghmore Sparrow. Anna Sarsfield from Kilmore NS riding Hardingville Lightening Strikes was third. Sibling Ciara Sarsfield riding Telynau Marcello was best turned out. These placings cemented Shannon and Anna’s placings in the primary league, with Shannon in first and Anna in second place. Peter Connolly from Castlepark NS was third, Ciara Sarsfield was fourth, while Patrick Connolly and Mary Kate Kelly took the remaining places.

Screen National School’s team of An Capall Dubh (Frankie Rath), Curraghmore Sparrow (Shannon Griffith), Creevagh Lass (Hannah Kavanagh) and Molly (Mary Kate Kelly) took the primary teams championship. Jilly Rhatigan from St Saviour’s NS Rathdrum riding Stonewall Katie was closest to the optimum time to win the 55cm class.

The Treo Eile Bursary winner was Wex Gal ridden by Amy Griffith (Loreto Wexford).

This rounds up the TRI Equestrian Interschools season for 2024-2025 and the best of luck to all the qualified teams that will be competing at the Bluegrass Horse Feeds schools show jumping open team championship at the Balmoral show on Saturday, May 17.