THE TRI Equestrian-sponsored Spring Pony Series moved to Lusk Equestrian last Sunday, where many competitors arrived at the venue on Saturday night to be stabled on site free of charge by hosts Jenny and Harold Lusk.
Course designer Paul Duffy was joined by Stephen McAlinden to look after the second arena and keep an eye on the children on horses division as the Ulster Region’s representative on that committee.
Almost 200 combinations jumped for valuable points in the Spring Series where there are valuable and prestigious rewards on offer at the final.
Arena 1 began with a very competitive 128cms under-10 jump-off class where 11 competitors went through to the jump-off with five of these remaining on a zero score.
The quickest of these was Camryn Clarke representing the Cavan Equestrian Centre and riding Pepsi Mac, this pair broke the beam in 33.15 ahead of Maeve Clarke on Alloy (35.94). Third place went to Camryn’s younger brother Jamie on board Snow Patrol II (37.85). Making it a Clarke family day out, dad Stuart was on hand to lend a hand in the arena when required.
Staying with the 128cms category, Oliver Doherty took the honours in the 90cms division on Emerald Lucky, producing a double clear in 34.87. He also finished third on Princess Vicky, clear in 38.13, with Alfie Adair and Courtway Alisha in runner-up spot in 37.16.
The 128cms/1m class was a good rehearsal ahead of the first RDS qualifier, especially as Duffy is the chosen course designer for all four trials. Ten combinations jumped clear in the first round, with 50% of these finishing on a zero score.
Dromore native Katie McEntee and the former Dublin winner Kilcreene Apollo were the fastest against the clock and took the win in 36.60, narrowly beating Alex Finney and Ballyknock Master Roan into second place 37.41. Maeve Clarke finished in third on Alloy (39.23).
Moving on to the 138cms ranks, Niamh McEvoy took centre stage in the 1m class on Edentrillick Jazz. This pair completed on a zero score in 33.57, impressing her grandfather Jim as he watched on from the raised viewing platform where spectators have a bird’s eye view from their cars.
Second place went to Alana Roulston on Lenamore Lena, this pair also went clear their time of 36.06 just beating Ruairi Clarke into third on Mulvin Rollover as they stopped the clock in 36.08.
The 138cms/1.10m class was won by Erin Crawford on Claggan Supreme, the fastest of only three double clears. They broke the beam in 34.27 relegating John McEntee into second on Hubba Bubba (35.43) with third place going to Ruairi Clarke on Gaulstown Lady Bishop (38.48).
Crawford also took the title in the 148cms/1.10m class, this time on Sparkling Castlewarren Gold, going clear in 28.89 and finishing marginally ahead of Hannah Agnew on Acorn’s Bobby (29.11) and leaving Orla Henry on Dun Well in third in 33.21.
In the 148cms/1.20m class, Orla Duffy made her trip from her base in England, via Co Mayo, worthwhile as she won the class on Tirconaill Bluebell when producing the only double clear in the class.
DOUBLE JOY
The children on horses and junior 1.10m class followed, in which where Derry native Donal O’Connor continued his run of success by taking both first and second on Claggan Dark Warrior (31.35) and Bens Beauty (33.03) respectively. Niamh McEvoy took third place on Bally Kingdom Clover in 34.90.
A testing 1.20m track for the children on horses failed to produce any clear rounds.
Arena two hosted the novice classes, many of which also carry valuable points towards the series final, none more so than the 128cms/50cms class, where the stars of the future get a chance to launch their show jumping careers.