THE final qualifying round of the Equipet/North East Region show jumping league was hosted by Ard Lú Riding Club last Sunday at the Johnny O’Connell-managed Ravensdale Lodge Equestrian Centre outside Dundalk.
Having picked up attendance points at Kernans and Cloncaw, Castle Leslie’s Bernadette Muirhead made it third time lucky when winning the Advanced Primary class on the 11-year-old Loughehoe Guy gelding Hanslough ahead of Castle Hill’s Elaine Mulligan and her nine-year-old bay mare, Cavram Phoebe.
Building up her confidence again following a fall two years ago, Muirhead joined Castle Leslie just last month year and is enjoying the riding club scene while she has also competed in the Flexi Eventing series at The Meadows. Hanslough was first produced under Show Jumping Ireland rules by Bernadette’s brother David Conlon who bred the bay out of the former Grade A mare Muckno Carol (by Carrolls Flight).
Muirhead, who lives near Markethill and works as a physiotherapist in Newry, used to compete in Eventing Ireland Intro classes. While she hopes to start eventing again, at this stage she is going to campaign in Riding Club company, taking part in show jumping and dressage as well.
Only two of the six starters in the Primary class managed to go double clear over the Mickey McCann-built track so locally-based judge Mary Mahon didn’t have much difficulty in working out the winner. Closer of the pair to the optimum time was Border Counties’ Sarah Lester and her 19-year-old Welsh mare Langarth Donna while Amanda Ryan of Killeek finished second on Spartacus.
In the 26-strong Intermediate class, Sandra Hannigan went into Sunday’s round one point behind Mullaghmore’s Pamela Moffett (16-15). However, the Cheval representative emerged one ahead as she took eight points for the win while her main rival had to settle for six points in third. Both were mounted on Connemara mares.
On board the Tulira Robuck 15-year-old Yukon Rosie (aka Camus Ramble), Hannigan was home clear in 33.03 seconds as Moffett finished two seconds slower on Golden Bready, an eight-year-old by Templebready Fear Bui. The pair were split by Castle Leslie’s Joyce Woods and the nine-year-old skewbald gelding Drumhowan Darlin Jazz (34.13).
WIN FOR SULLIVAN
There was a big upset in the Advanced Intermediate division where Tara Hill’s Rachel Muldoon and Ballymotey Carla Vision, winners of the first three legs, had two fences down to finish out of the placings.
The winner was Boyneside chairman Fintan Sullivan and Tullyallen Lily on whom the rider also competes under SJI Rules. The nine-year-old grey mare by Hermes de Reve was bred in Co Cork by Glenn Knipe out of Burn Girl (by Silver Glider) who Sullivan evented twice at Intro level.
The winning combination was home in 39.87, giving them a clear margin of success over the second-placed pairing of Drynam’s Sabrina Bermingham and her 12-year-old Crossdrum Spurs mare, Bella Donna (44.53).
The sole entry in the Open and Advanced Open divisions was another representative of the Swords-based club, Carol Smillie and her eight-year-old home-bred Killcotton Cross gelding Streamstown Storm.
As one of the more-recently established clubs in the region, it was a big undertaking of Ard Lú to hold a league qualifier but they have stepped up before and have a great team of volunteers who helped the day run smoothly. Thankfully, the St John’s Ambulance crew were not required to attend to any fallers.
Among the many prizes donated for the day’s raffle were Dubarry vouchers, boots from Tredstep, TRI Equestrian NI donated a rug, saddle cloth and head collar while BUCAS also donated a rug.
The final of the Equipet/North East Region league takes place next Sunday, March 3rd, when it will be staged by the resident club at Killossery Lodge Stud.