THE beautiful setting of Barnadown Showjumping played host to Coole-Lane RC’s leg of the AIRC South East show jumping league last weekend, which saw over 70 riders take on the coloured poles.

Kicking off proceedings was the Newcomers class, which was dominated by the host club. Showing their class were Chloe Rice and Lady Cassandra (Coole-Lane) who took first, Lauren Doyle and Mac Attack (Coole-Lane) were firing on all cylinders into second, while Lady Luck was on side for Candice Whelan and Lucky Whirls (Horetown) who brought home third.

A clear round in the RC70 class for Caroline Mason and Benjamin (Horetown) made their trip to Wexford worthwhile when they bagged the red, pipping Chloe Rice into second on her second outing of the day. Local rider Patrick Deegan and Last Masterpiece (Ballycanew) had a lovely consistent round, which earned them third place.

Barrow Valley member Sally Roberts was delighted with her young grey Connemara Millie, winner of the RC70 Open class. Grainne O’Brien (Coole-Lane) and her lovely thoroughbred Henry won the blue rosette. Not to be outdone by her fellow club mate, Sarah Hollmann and Garrylough Carrie were hot on the heels of Henry, but couldn’t catch them on this occasion and had to settle for third.

With only three clears in the RC80, it was Miss Comet and Casey Cushe (Ashwood) who soared into first place, pipping Wexford’s Stephanie Bryan and Hazelwood Levi (Horetown) into second, with third going to Marie Ní Dhiomsaigh and Ballycullane Sandy (Carne).

Edging to victory

It was Tipperary v Wexford in the RC80 Open, where the clear round of Carne’s Ethan Cahill and Pippa saw them edge their way to victory, ahead of Carly Walsh and King Atlas of Clonmel. Third went to Barrow Valley’s Shona Maguire and Shaken Not Stirred, who were unfortunate to have a pole down in the first round.

The Young Horse class is an excellent way to give the horses of tomorrow a gentle introduction into the world of show jumping. Joan Sinnott (Ballycanew) was out showing her grey the way, but it was The Ozzie Way that won it for her in the end. Carne’s Ciara Kinsella and Indy will be happy with just time faults to their score card and a blue ribbon at the day’s event, while TT&D’s Tara Phelan and Lux Chester were unlucky to have the last pole on the ground leaving them in third position.

There was nothing odd about Ciara Shannon’s round of jumping, when her partner in crime Oddsocks (Coole) was the only one to cleverly negotiate some unwanted corners in the RC90 class. Climbing back up the rankings into second was Shona Maguire and Shaken Not Stirred, while the yellow rosette went back to Kilkenny’s Louise Moran and Spirit Nala (TT&D).

A mere second split the top two of the RC90 Open class. First place went to Ethan Cahill and Queen Ruby Royale (Carne), second was Stephanie Hoyne and Midnight Mischa (TT&D) and bouncing into third was Hazel Burke and On The Bounce (Ballycanew).

Speedy

Speed was the order of the day in the RC100 class with Raymond Murphy’s Ballustree Flagmount Clover (Ballycanew) a whole four seconds ahead of host club member Leonard Reamsbottom and Lightening Spirit, who had to settle for second place. Third place went to TT&Ds Maria Rocket and Queen of the Glen.

Amy Lambert and Golden King Lux (Ballycanew) had the class to themselves in the RC100 Open, but it was worth the trip for the pair who bagged themselves a rug sponsored by Kavanagh & Co. Solicitors in Tullow.

Ashwood Reggie gets a pat from Edwina O'Connor after taking the red ribbon in the Irish Draught Horse Performance Championship at Balmoral \ Susan Finnerty

It was a special day in the O’Connor household with Ashwood Reggie and Edwina O’Connor (Ashwood) taking the RC110 class and then racing back up the motorway for some birthday cake, while Majority Reign and Abigail Kent (Horetown) took their blue rosette and a lovely voucher from Equieire in the opposite direction, back down to Wexford.

This Sunday sees the league head to neighbouring club Tinahely.