For good measure, they also claimed the best turned-out prize.
In the open competition, the Newbridge College team of Caoimhe Sweeney on Kippure Steepleview Jack, Jack Ross on Bally David Souz, Emma O’Callaghan on La Paca and Karen Casey on Primadonna Girl saw off strong opposition in a three-way-jump off against St Gerard’s and King’s Hospital. The Co Kildare school’s jump-off representatives Casey and O’Callaghan were both clear to secure the win.
The St Gerard’s team of Kirstie Connole, Sarah Bloor, Shona Callon and Blathnaid Boyd was represented against the clock by the first-named duo, who were also clear but four seconds slower than Newbridge to take second place.
King’s Hospital sent out the team of Rebekah Forster, Poppy Connolly Carew, Emma Smith and Ellen Forster. Connolly Carew and Smith posted the fastest time against the clock, but were denied the win with an unlucky four faults.
Árdscoil na Tríonóide was fastest of the four-faulters in round one to take fourth, followed by Wesley College and Mercy Ballymahon.
The open individual competition saw a one-two for Newbridge with Caoimhe Sweeney and Kippure Steepleview Jack just pipping fellow student Karen Casey on Primadonna Girl to claim victory. Christopher Whyte from Mercy Ballymahon was next fastest to claim third ahead of Sarah Bloor from St Gerard’s.
The remaining two places went to Derek Shaw from Ballymahon and Jessica Aragane from Wesley.
The novice team competition went to a two-way jump-off. Once again, Newbridge took the spoils when jump-off representatives Emma Dillon (Pokey) and Hannah Rasmussen (Prancing Paudi) were clear against the clock. Their team was completed by Clodagh Finlay (Molly Malone) and Ciara Harris (Dickenson’s Jewel).
Mercy Ballymahon, represented by Denny Hebron, Sarah Farrell, Tanya Farrell and Kevin Manning, finished second. Wesley College claimed third ahead of Kildare Town Community School in fourth and fifth places and Árdscoil na Tríonóide in sixth.
Emma Dillon kept up Newbridge’s run of good luck by claiming the win in the novice individual, finishing just ahead of Holly Micklem and Tilly Shaw, both from Wesley College, in second and third. Tara Mulreid from Árdscoil na Tríonóide was fourth.
The action this weekend moves to Killoserry Lodge Stud and Tipperary Equestrian Centre.