LAST Sunday, young children from all over Munster travelled to Lismore to compete in the Showjumping Primary Schools Team and Individual Championships held at the Ballyrafter Centre. It turned into a special day for Newtown Primary School in Waterford who scooped both the open team and individual trophies. Their team of Aoife Keena, Genevieve Heskin and Natasha Foley, topped the jump-off for the open team trophy and Natasha Foley also had a spectacular winning round in the individual.

There was a surprise result for the winning novice team from the combined schools of St. Mary’s National School, Grange, Youghal and Modeligo, as cousins John and Cian Gleeson, competing in their very first competition, convincingly win the novice trophy.

In the open, four teams advanced to a jump-off where all three team members jumped. Newtown Primary completed in the combined fast time of 117.46 but with four faults on their card. Inch & Dungourney National Schools - Eric Mellerick, Maire Loughnane and Ella Budds - also had one down but their time of 133.30 held for the runner-up position. The combined team from Ardmore, Ballynoe and Inch National Schools - Adam O’Donnell, Alice Roch-Perks and Odhran Budds - were on four faults but slotted into third with a slower time.

The local team from Bunscoil Bhothar na Naomh, Lios Mor, - Rena Meagher, Bonnie Trigg and Anna Grey - filled fourth place after just one error. Newtown Primary, Waterford, celebrated as the primary schools open 2017 winners. The best turned out award went to Baltydaniel National School, Mallow - Seyah Darcy, Charlotte Henderson and Lucy Williamson.

The novice team event was also won from the front when John Glesson, Cian Gleeson and Jessica Collender jumped lovely clear rounds in both rounds for their combined schools of St.Mary’s National, Grange and Modeligo National School in their first competitive outing.

Three teams completed on just four faults after two rounds so they jumped-off to decide placings. St. Peter’s National School, Dungourney, young team of Cara Padden, Zara Richardson and Kathryn Loughnane were fastest to claim the runner-up slot and Scoil Eoin Naofa, Ballyclough, Mallow, were third when twins Rachel and Amy Lucey and Tommy Aherne were just a little slower in the timed round. Fourth went to Kill, Glenbeg and Modeligo National Schools team - Luke Foran, Kate Donnelly and Rosie Wright.

WIN FOR FOLEY

The primary schools individual competition saw 14 jump against the clock for the individual title. Eric Mellerick for Inch National School laid down the gauntlet in 37.28. Alannah-Rose Steele, representing Aghada National School, had a lovely round to slot in behind in 43.05. She was closely followed by Rion Walsh from Gaelscoil Chorain, Eochaill, who got 45.19 and Alena Hackett for Fenor National School was close in 46.04 to finish fifth. Sarah Kirk for Gaelscoil Chorain was sixth in 46.92. Jumping second last, Natasha Foley kept up the pace to fly through the beams and be the winner of the 2017 Primary Schools Individual Championship.