A WELL supported leg of the TRI Equestrian Interschools league was held at Wexford Equestrian Centre last Sunday. There was plenty of action in both outdoor and indoor schools with classes running until 6.30pm.

In the TRI Equestrian open team league competition, East Glendalough emerged as victors ahead of rivals Gorey Community School in close second. The winning team composed Miss Cool and Trendy (Skyla Nally), Ashwood Chuisle Lady (Sarah Curry), Summer (Rosie Coad) and Shergar Rose (Anna Morrissey). Gorey Community School team ponies were Aurora (Angelica McGee), Kyle Lad (Lauren Spencer), Misha B (Holly Spencer) and Parc na Ruarc (Naomi Doyle). Colaiste Bhride Carnew was third. Banagher Chrissie (Johnnie Shepard), Carra Cave Boy (Cian Byrne), Althorp (Chloe Walsh) and Drummin Pretty Lady (Hannah O’Neill) represented Carnew. The remaining league points were claimed by local schools Presentation Wexford and Loreto Wexford.

The TRI Equestrian Open Individual league followed and top points went to Ramsgrange Community School’s Jessie Bates (Guns for Hire) followed by Borris Vocational School’s Anna Murphy (Pemboy) in second and in third Colaiste Bhride’s Sophie Wilson on Lunasa Cruise. Fourth place went to Loreto Wexford with Pinot ridden by Jess Murphy. Kilkenny College’s Ned Kelly riding Roudeva Archer and Fiona’s Fionn were next in the line-up and since Kelly had claimed fifth and sixth the final league point went to Ardscoil Na Mara rider Lucy Rhatigan (Freddie) in seventh place.

There was a very good standard on display in the Horse Sport Ireland-sponsored 1.10m class. The top qualifying slot was claimed by Colaiste Bride Carnew’s Chloe Walsh (Althorp) ahead of fellow team mate Sophie Wilson (Lunasa Cruise (AQ)) in second and Lucy Rhatigan (Freddie) from Gael Cholaiste Na Mara in third. Remaining qualifying spots went to Rosie Coad, Holly Spencer (AQ), Cian Byrne (AQ), Anna Murphy and Naomi Doyle.

Bridgetown scores win

The EII novice teams league competition saw a win for Bridgetown College’s Jack Brophy (Star), Sophie Whitehead (Mollie), Noah Murphy (BBS En Vogue) and Owen Carroll (Joey) ahead of the Tullow Red team of Hershey’s Kiss and Niamh Tobin, Malacia and Louise Nolan and Myshall Gerry, ridden by Caoimhe Curran in second and Loreto Wexford’s Brown Bells Nugget (Isobel Walsh), Loyal Gem (Leah Murphy), My Bay Bouncer (Ava Murphy) and Clogorrows Sally (Aoife Creane) in third.

The always well-supported Equieire EII novice 90cm qualifier, which is confined to novice riders only, was won in fine style by Alannah Hanlon riding Drumree Forest Prince for Ard Scoil Rathangan who posted a very fast time to just pip Alexandra College representative Hazel Walsh (Sir Blue Jake) into second place. Loreto Wexford’s Aoife Griffith riding Wanda Toby was third. Amy Griffith, Sarah Kennedy and Aoife O’Grady claimed fourth, fifth and sixth respectively.

As Hanlon also won the EII 90cm class at the recent Coilog hosted Interschools event so there was an extra qualifying slot on offer which went to Nessa Dwan.

Joy for Slattery

The other EII league event was the EII 70cm primary individual class. The victor here was Hazel Slattery and Nica representing Kilrane NS, with Broadway NS’s Aoife Murray riding Phoebe in second and Lucy Stafford and Tarzan’s Boy also representing Kilraine in third. St Brigid Grange’s Cillian Tobin on Hershey’s Kiss was the winner in the novice 80cm class.

There was a good local turnout for the primary schools’ event and the mixed team from Broadway of Tagoat-Blackie (Bethany Nolan), Chocolate (Sarah Pettit), Phoebe (Aoife Murphy) and Tricky Stephen Dee (Faye Howlin) made most of the running to claim first place in this class. Last but not least Scoil Diarmada’s Maya White riding Pippy won the 55cm class.

The action moves to JAG Equestrian this Sunday where Julieann Gaffney and her team are the hosts.