THE Jumpinaction.net Secondary Schools Show Jumping League got off to a grand start with the individual class at Killossery Lodge Stud last weekend.
Katelyn Lynham Clarke from the Blessington Community College (Joey) was the first to set the target crossing the line in 42.50 seconds, good enough for eventual sixth. Samantha Bretzner was first in to the arena and made everyone else work really hard to try to catch her as she crossed the line in a time of 28.72. Elle Collins from Presentation Thurles steered Morning Starlite through the finish in a time of 38.65 which left her in fourth place in the line-up.
Yasmin Murray was next in to the arena and steered Holiday Anytime through the finish in 41.83 for fifth. The consistent Ted, ridden by long time partner Kate Horgan, entered the arena and whizzed around in a time of 34.00. Samantha Bretzner with Lishmar Timmy crossed the line in 32.14 to take the winner’s rug.
Ellen McGrath from Dunshaughlin Community School rode Diamond of Windgate through the finish in 35.72 to take third spot.
The Secondary Team competition kicked off with 10 teams and course designer Frank Glynn asked a few more questions and it showed with only three teams going through to the jump-off. First in was Mount Sackville’s blue team and both Cosgrove sisters jumped good solid clears for a combined time of 88.53. Next in was Loreto Balbriggan 1 with an unfortunate pole on the ground for Kate Barrett, while her sister Ruth jumped clear, good enough for eventual third. New visitors to the venue Blessington Community College showed how it should be done with fast clears and a combined time of 73.73 meant they went home with the winner’s rugs.
The Dressage By Design Primary Schools Novice Individuals competition moved indoors and returning to the podium was Kevin Doyle with North Star, joining him was Molly ridden by Harry gGeen and Conor Toole with Oreo making his interschools’ debut, all three boys attend St Andrew’s Curragha. Other schools in the line-up were Carysfort National School with Katie Annsley of Pope John Paul School in Malahide with Reese Elliot while Dunsany was represented by Ruby and Daisy McMorrow, Glenasmole had Suinnibhe Stassin to thank for its place and Dunshaughlin fielded Lucy Minnock to take the medal.
INDIVIDUALS
The action-packed open individual class started in the afternoon indoors with some great jumping from all of the riders involved. The early lead went to Sadhbh Tormey with Forever Fudge in a good time of 26.59. Entering the arena shortly afterwards was Ruairi O’Neill riding Silver Lady who crossed the line in 27.09, good enough for fifth in the final line-up.
The consistent Lara Pollock with Marsie crossed the line in 26.46 which looked good enough for the win but when the diminutive Daisy and Phoebe Horgan crossed the line in 25.93, it meant Daisy went home with a new rug. Catherine O’Connor, who steered Casper over the line in 26.91, took fourth slot while the final slot was taken by Isla Smith on Strypes.
The Dressage by Design Primary Team competition produced lots of excitement and had seven teams through to the jump-off. The first team in to jump was the combined schools of Gaelscoile na Cille/St Marys/St Micheal’s and unfortunately a pole on the ground left them in sixth in the final line-up. The team from St Andrew’s Curragha (yellow) went clear but were not quite quick enough to finish better than fifth.
Rathcoffey skipped around in a time of 42.39 which meant they went home with winners’ rugs while St Andrews Curragha green team slotted in to second place with a time of 46.01.
Corduff team were not far behind on a score of 51.89 while the local teams from Rolestown NS and St Mary’s finished just slightly slower than Corduff (56.83), good enough for fourth.
The final leg will take place on February 10th next.