THE second half of the TRI Equestrian Interschools season got under way last Saturday at Wexford Equestrian Centre. All classes were offered and both arenas were in action from early in the morning throughout the day, writes Helen O’Neill.

The Primary team competition was held in the outdoor arena, while the novice teams event commenced proceedings indoors.

The Primary teams event was won by the team from local school Rathangan. The team was made up of Barney [Gracie Kelly], Angel [Mollie Bates Doyle], Darby [Freya Barry] and Ollie [Joe Ryan]. The team from Screen NS, Molly [Mary Kate Kelly], Lady [Shannon Griffith] and Little Rocket] Ellen Cash] came second ahead of a mixed team from Horsewood/Gussarane/The Rower in third. This team was represented by Belle [Hannah Kate Crosbie], Coco [Mia Kent]. Bobby [Sarah Finn] and Katie [Kayla Barron].

The Primary Individual classes followed and the red rosette in the 50cm class went to Scoil Diarmada’s Anna Curry on Dolly, while Jodie Brennan on Carrigane Lass from Kiltealy NS won the 70cm class.

The novice 80cm class followed and was hotly contested. St Brigid’s NS Grange’s Cillian Tobin, riding Hershey’s Kiss, took the honours from Robyn Prendergast on Newtown Rocket from Castletown NS in second and Oisin Phelan on Pepper Belle from Colaiste Lorcain.

The trip to Wexford was well worthwhile for the team from St Peter’s College, Dunboyne when it claimed the first prize in the Novice Teams event. Inchydonell [Lily Knapik], San Francisco Clover [Jeorjia Knapik], Slane Twinkle Star [Emily Michael] and Changing Course [Sadhbh Finn] comprised the team. Gorey Community School’s novice team were runners-up. Gorey Community School The Mighty Man [Shayna Glynn], Peppard’s Castle Donnie [Alexandra Cassidy], Daisy Daisy [Amber Farrell] and Chalk Knight [Susan O’Brien] were Gorey’s representatives. Local School, Loreto Wexford claimed third place. Its team was Hobbinstown Hero [Kate Jordan], Clogorrows Sally [Aoife Creane], Bells Nugget [Isobel Walsh] and Shakespeare Romeo Montague [Cora Finn].

The Equieire EII 90cm qualifier was well supported and St Mary’s New Ross’ Eva O’Grady took first place, followed by Borris Vocational School’s Ella Kidd riding The Maggie Lady and Isabel Byrne riding Dutch from FCJ Bunclody. Caoimhe Curran on Myshall Gerry from Tullow CS was fourth. The remaining qualifier places went to Casey Shiels and Cora Finn.

The 1.10m winner was Presentation Wexford Sienna’s Diamond, ridden by Eva Mulligan, at the TRI Equestrian Interschools at Wexford EC

Open teams action

The action moved on to the all-important TRI Equestrian Open Teams event. The team from Colaiste Bhride Carnew, Lunasa Cruise [Sophie Wilson], Galtee Shadow [Johnnie Shepard], Corky Rocks [Chloe Walsh] and Drummin Pretty Lady [Hannah O’Neill] gained a very important 10 points for the win, ahead of the current league leaders Gorey CS. Gorey was represented by Parc Na Ruairc [Naomie Doyle], Misha B [Hollie Spencer], Kyle Lad [Lauren Spencer] and Killaspic Kilamaster [Eimear Ni Cinneada]. Third place was claimed by the St Mary’s New Ross team of three, Ross Cash Advance [Martha Power], Juneipierre [Ava Donovan] and Ask Her Something [Katelyn Johnson].

The TRI Equestrian Open Individual League competition also went to Colaiste Bhride when Johnnie Sheppard, this time riding Tally Ho Mayday, claimed first place. St Mary’s New Ross’ rider Martha Power on Cash Advance was second and Presentation Wexford’s Eva Mulligan on Sienna’s Diamond was third. The remaining league points went to Eimear Ni Chinneide from Gorey, Alexander College’s Catherine O’Connor and Colaiste Bride’s Sophie Wilson.

The final class of the day was the HSI-sponsored Premier 1.10m qualifier. Eva Mulligan, again partnering Sienna’s Diamond from Presentation Wexford, improved on her third-place finish in the TRI Equestrian Individual class to take the win. Sophie Wilson on Lunasa Cruise from Gorey CS was runner-up. Colaiste Bhride Carnew’s Chloe Walsh on Corky Rocks was third. The remaining qualifier places went to FCJ Bunclody’s Cormac Walsh riding Back to the Future, Carnew’s Johnnie Sheppard on Galtee Shadow and Gorey’s Angelica McGee riding Abbeybrook Aurora.

The action moves to Tipperary this weekend where Tipperary Equestrian Centre and Ursuline College Thurles are the hosts.