ORLA Roche and her team in Wexford Equestrian hosted the latest TRI Equestrian Interschools event last Sunday. In a closely fought competition, Bridgetown College saw off rivals Loreto Wexford to claim first place. Untouchable Royale and Owen Carroll, Breolie Mist and Hazel Slattery, Hawk Eye ridden by Noah Sinnott Murphy and Gypsy and Lily Walsh represented Bridgetown, while A Little Bit of Twinkle ridden by Hannah Rose Roche, Bells Nugget and Isabelle Walsh, Wex Gal with Amy Griffith and Redshire Molly and Kate Walsh made up the Loreto team. Gorey Community College placed third. Alexandra Cassidy, Holly Spence, Amber Farrell and Jamie Curran riding Courtwood Prince, Kyle Lad, Daisy Daisy and Clayton were the Gorey team. St Mary’s New Ross was fourth, with Kilkenny College in fifth place.

Open Individual/Premier 110

The TRI Equestrian Open Individual league class and the Premier 110 qualifier followed. Niamh Tobin riding Broomfield Banner for Tullow Community School took the 10 league points, ahead of Dennistown Prince, ridden by Kate Walsh for Loreto in second and Kilkenny College’s Isabel Smithwick on Donode Don’t Forget in third. Remaining league points went to Alexandra Cassidy, Keira Crowther and Isabel Byrne. Jamie Curren from Gorey Community College riding Clayton won the TRI Equestrian Premier 110 class, ahead of Redshire Molly and Kate Walsh from Loreto and Kilpatrick Sparkle and Alannah Bailey from Kilkenny College.

Novice 90cm

The Equieire novice 90cm qualifier was, as always, hotly contested. Brooke Sutton McGarry representing Ramsgrange riding Achill placed first, ahead of Ellie Brosnan Flemming and Westside Mirah Bob from Colaiste Bride Enniscorthy (AQ) and Starlight Empress and Loreto’s Aoife Griffith. Freya Barry and Churchland’s Liberty from Loreto (AQ), Clodagh Murphy on Pogolicious from St Mary’s New Ross and Hannah Hennessy Murphy on Coppenagh Commet (AQ). Since three of the first six are already qualified, Kate Jones, Caitlin Griffith and Zach Curran also gain qualifying slots.

Novice teams

The Hopoti-sponsored Novice teams league competition produced a first place for Loreto Wexford represented by Starlight Express and Aoife Griffith, WNDA Toby ridden by Caitlin Griffith, Churchland’s Liberty and Freya Barry and Jumpingdale Peanut ridden by Ruby Cousins. Tullow Community School’s Khaleesi Stormborn ridden by Una Farrell, Millie and Caoimhe Curran, Max and Lauren Kehoe and Hershey’s Kiss ridden by Cillian Tobin came second, ahead of Loreto’s other novice team; Louis Arthur ridden by Annie Scallan, Tricklebrook Jaguar and Sadie Moran, Trickey Stephen D ridden by Faye Howlin and Billy partnered by Kate Jones. Fourth, fifth and sixth went to Ramsgrange, Gorey and Bridgetown. Final league points went to Kilkenny College.

Novice individual

Abbie Murphy riding Wonderful White from Ramsgrange produced a great round to win the Hopoti novice individual competition. Mia Donovan from St Mary’s on Raven was second and Ciara Sarsfield on Telynau Marcello riding for Kilmore NS was third.

Equestrian Interschools Ireland/ JODZ 75cm class was won by Shannon Griffith riding Curraghmore Sparrow for Screen NS. Anna Sarsfield from Kilmore on Curraghmore Sparrow was second with Kiltealy’s Bobby Bowe on Tinchy Strider in third. The JODZ 55cm class went to Hannah Dooley on The Hare from Courtnacuddy NS.

Shannon Griffith, from Screen NS, winner of the 75cm EII league class at the Interschools at Wexford Equestrian

Primary individual

Last but not least, the Aloga-sponsored 90cm premier primary individual was won by Cathal Coleman from Kiltealy riding Castlellis Tina, ahead of Shannon Griffith and Curraghmore Sparrow and Outrath and Lily Kelly.

Shanakill leg

On the previous Bank Holiday Monday, Jerome Foley’s Shanakill House Equestrian Centre ran a leg of the league, where there was a great welcome for all competitors. Kilkenny College, represented by Flashdance Billy ridden by Ava O’Neill, Glenrock Lisa and Gloria Queally, Carraun Ferdy with Georgia Queally and Kilpatrick Sparkle ridden by Alannah Bailey, produced great rounds to win the TRI Equestrian open teams league class, ahead of St Mary’s New Ross, who placed second and third. St Mary’s rider Mia Kent came first in the TRI Equestrian open individual class, ahead of Billy Ignite ridden by Kyle Cummins for Good Counsel in second and Borris College’s Darragh O’Brien on Shooting Star in third, Loreto Secondary, Fermoy’s Ella Higgins riding Turpane Farhana in fourth and Lucy Healy from Presentation Thurles in fifth. The TRI Equestrian 110 qualifier saw qualifier places being claimed by Darragh O’Brien from Borris, again riding Shooting Star and Clayton, ridden by Jamie Curran from Gorey Community School.

The top six places in the Equieire 90cm class went to Muireann Tooher on Slieve Rushen Don and Lumcloon Max and Laura Keogh both from Tullow, Lucy Healy and Sunny Sky from Presentation Thurles, Una Farrell and Khaleesi Storm Born, Snow flake and Brooke McGarry and Halston Lupin and Sarah O’Connor.

Tullow Community School won the Hopoti Novice teams’ competition. Tullow was represented by Khalessi Storm Born and Una Farrell, Slieve Rushen Don with Muireann Tooher, Lumcloon Max and Lauren Keogh and Hershey’s Kiss ridden by Cillian Tobin.

St Declan’s Kilmacthomas represented by Bunny and Clodagh Dunn, Rosie ridden by Aoibhinn O’Sullivan, Benji with Fionn O’Donnell and Ruben ridden by Inis Power were second, ahead of Loreto Wexford’s Churchland’s Liberty ridden by Freya Barry, Jumpingdale Peanut and Ruby Cousin, Louis Arthur with Annie Scallon and Tricky Stephen D and Faye Howlin in third. The Hopoti Novice individual class was won by Mai Donovan riding Raven from St Mary’s New Ross.

Action this Sunday moves to Boswell Equestrian.

The TRI Equestrian Open Team class winners at Wexford Equestrian were from Bridgetown College and included Untouchable Royale (Owen Carroll), Breolie Mist (Hazel Slattery), Hawk Eye (Noah Sinnott Murphy), Gypsy (Lily Walsh).