KILLOSSERY Riding Club hosted the third leg of the North East Region Equipet winter show jumping league at the Glynn family’s equestrian centre last Sunday.

Those who competed in the morning had the better of the weather as all warmed up outside to jump indoors over courses built by Frank Glynn. Judge Michael O’Connor was kept busy throughout the day with large entries in the height classes which preceded the graded competitions.

The smooth running of the show was down to the hard work of Killossery chairperson Sharon McCabe, secretary Lisa Kennedy and all those club members who were in position well in advance of the start time.

There were 28 competitors in the intermediate league where Border Counties’ Laura Finnegan ran out a very comfortable winner with Greenacres Buddy L’Rue in a time of 30.42.

The 16-year-old chesnut gelding, on whom Laura also competes in riding club one-day events, is by the part-bred Arab stallion Red House Condor.

Boyneside secretary Sarah Richardson finished second on Red Square 8 (33.02) with Cheval’s Sarah Jane Finnegan placing third on Kayla (33.10). The winner’s time looked even more impressive after the advanced intermediate and open classes.

CASTLE LESLIE DOMINATES

The Castle Leslie club continues to dominate the advanced intermediate division where, on Sunday, Sheena Kerr recorded her second win of the series with the 10-year-old bay gelding Pegasus. Over a track similar to the intermediate, they stopped the clock on 34.05 with Boyneside chairman Fintan Sullivan finishing second on his Dutch-bred gelding Pawaliezo (35.35).

Just four started in the open class where the host club filled the top two spots, Brian Cassidy taking the honours with his 10-year-old mare Looks Easy (33.42) on whom he competes in amateur classes under Show Jumping Ireland rules.

The chesnut by Ringwood Harley Carol was bred in Co Limerick by Ronnie Kelly out of the Ballysimon mare Lorella.

Club and show secretary Lisa Kennedy finished second with her first round winner, Dunsoughly Nelson (34.89).

Cheval members came out on top in the opening two classes with Claudine Kerr, on board her evergreen 20-year-old Miss Tequila (43.53), narrowly claiming the primary section ahead of Border Counties’ Sarah Lester and Cloncaw Smartie (44.80).

PERFECT START

Roslyn Byrne had the perfect start to her campaign as, on her seasonal debut, she won the advanced primary class with her sister Susan Kennedy’s seven-year-old Connemara gelding Lishmar Yorkie (44.42). Deirdre Lawlor, who is secretary of the neighbouring Killeek club, finished second on Smokey (45.01).

The league continues tomorrow at Ravensdale, where the fourth leg is being hosted by Ard Lú (a Co Armagh-based club which was established just last year) with the final being staged by Castle Leslie seven days later.

While there is plenty of action planned for AIRC members for the rest of the season, riders are reminded to check out details of the Connemara class for riders over 16 at the Irish Pony Society’s Sport Pony Challenge qualifiers and also the Connemara and Irish Draught performance qualifiers for the Dublin Horse Show.