THE Interschools season for 2023-2024 came to a close last Sunday, with the exception of those now qualified for the Interschools Championships, which will take place at the RUAS Balmoral Show in May and for any school planning on sending teams to the Hurstpierpoint Interschools in Hickstead later in the summer.

The final this year was held in CoilÓg Equestrian and the CoilÓg team, Gwen and Chris Byrne, Michelle Davitt, Phillipa Marks and Donal Mangan, together with the EII committee, pulled out all the stops to provide a most enjoyable day’s jumping. Three rings were in action on the day, with the principal action taking place in the main Hornbeam arena with judge Orla Griffin and her team.

Team jumping started proceedings in all three arenas and the TRI Equestrian Open teams Championship was decided by a six-way jump-off, with the team from Kilkenny College producing fast jump-off rounds to take the win on the day. This win was good enough to secure Kilkenny third place in the league and a ticket to Balmoral. Kilkenny was represented by Ferdy ridden by Eliza Jane Queally, Charlie and Martha Dolan, Denode Don’t Forget with Isabelle Smithwick and Fortane Silver Fox ridden by Kate Corrigan. Mercy Ballymahon claimed the runner-up spot and this moved the school up to fourth place in the league, thus earning a qualifying ticket to Balmoral.

The Duignan family, Katie on Ah Boy Duggie, Ella on Wyndham Miss Ellie and Calum on Ilane Dante, together with Grace Egan on Duncarberry Prince, comprised the Ballymahon team. Third place in the Championship went to St Mary’s New Ross representatives Cash Advance ridden by Martha Power, Smooth Passin Sarco and Ciara Sinnott, Tomello ridden by Katie Costello and Junipierre and Ava Donovan, and this was sufficient to ensure first place in the league and a Balmoral ticket.

The 75cm league winner Shannon Griffith on Curraghmore Sparrow for Screen NS

Newbridge College is also Balmoral bound as their fourth-place finish on the day secured the school the runner-up slot in the league. The Newbridge team was Gateau Mr Blue and Ellen O’Neill, Freddie ridden by Claire Nestor, Lucky or Rua and Isabelle Walsh and Gorm and Lucy McCarthy.

Wesley College (DG Arkill ridden by Saoirse Handley, Enniskerry Pedro ridden by Mia Murphy, Slanelough Supremacy and Maresa Vard and Jack Murphy on Ballinteskin Gala Jack) was fifth on the day and also fifth in the league, earning the remaining qualifying slot for Balmoral. Coming sixth on the day and sixth in the league was Loreto Wexford, comprising Joy Limit ridden by Ashley Durack, Jessie Murphy on Pinot and Redshire Molly ridden by Kate Walsh. The TRI-sponsored Best Turned Out prize was awarded to St Peter’s Wexford.

TRI Equestrian Open Individual Championship winner was The Hilly Billy ridden by Ronan Gilvary for Presentation Headford \ Laurence Dunne jumpinaction.net

Open Individual Championship

The TRI Equestrian Open Individual Championship followed. Ronan Gilvary riding The Hilly Billy for Presentation Headford made his journey worthwhile, when he posted the fastest time and secured first in the competition on the day, moving up to fifth in the league results. Calum Duignan on Ilane Dante from Mercy Ballymahon took second place and secured sixth place in the league. Cici Murray from Newbridge riding Lexi was third on the day. Alice Curley representing The King’s Hospital and riding EE Parlanti Cruise was fourth, ahead of Hannah O’Neill on Drummin Pretty Lady for Carnew. O’Neill also took second place in the league. The final place on the day went to Harry Barton from Rockwell riding Ceann Dearg.

The overall League winner was Johnnie Sheppard, who, although not placed in the Championship, had enough league points to secure the win. The final league points went to Lucy McCarthy in third and Ellen O’Neill in fourth. Best turned out was shared between Claire Nestor and Aoife Flynn.

The final of the TRI Premier 110 class followed and a large number of the qualified combinations lined out for this. There was an excellent standard of jumping and Jack Murphy from Wesley riding Ballinteskin Gala produced a foot-perfect round to claim the class by two seconds, ahead of Katie Duignan on Ah Boy Duggie from Mercy Ballymahon. Julianna Duffy from Ursuline Thurles was third, with Keira Crowther from Loreto Wexford riding Tomoko Spots in fourth. Martha Dolan riding Pippa for Kilkenny College and Kayla Ryan on the thoroughbred Lily Trotter were fifth and sixth.

Placing sixth also earned Ryan the Treo Eile Bursary prize. Abigail Kenny was best turned out. Ger O’Kane and her team, Lauren and Nicole were on site with TRI goodies and the popular TRI carrot stand, and to present the prizes for the TRI Equestrian-sponsored competitions.

Equieire 90 winner Marina Bolton on Castlegannon Tara from King's Hospital with Emma Keogh from Equieire.

The final competition in the Hornbeam was the Equieire 90cm final, confined to qualified novice combinations. Marina Bolton representing The King’s Hospital and riding Castlegannon Tara won. She had qualified at JAG Equestrian. Vicky Curran riding Charleville Blackjack from St Mary’s Charleville, who had qualified at Hollypark, took second place. Caton Fought riding La Vie et Belle for Newbridge was third. She gained her qualifying spot at Broadmeadow.

The remaining rosettes went to Rosemary Dundon from Borris on Killags Foxy Lady, Finn Breen on Glencroft Blarney Stone representing Blessington Community College and Dara Reynolds on Ballinduff Boy (Togo) from Presentation Headford. Their qualifying spots were gained at Wexford Equestrian, JAG and Ower Equestrian. Emma Keogh from Equieire and her team were on hand to showcase their wares and present the prizes.

Novice Championship winners Tullow Community School red team with their second team, the blue team, who were best turned out winners on the day - Broomfield Banner and Niamh Tobin, Hershey’s Kiss and Cillian Tobin, Barney and Lauren Bailey and Silver and Brooke O’Donoghue, together with Orla Dalton and Lady Liath, Lauren Kehoeand Max, Una Farrell and Khaleesi and Caoimhe Curran and Lolalicious.

Novice teams and individuals

The Lime Arena, with judge Jan McKenna and team, was the venue for the Novice teams and individuals Championships. The novice teams’ competition was hotly contested, with nine teams going forward into the jump-off decider. Tullow Community School Red produced the fastest double clear to claim the Championship by the slimmest of margins. Tullow was represented by Red Broomfield Banner and Niamh Tobin, Hershey’s Kiss and Cillian Tobin, Barney ridden by Lauren Bailey and Brook O’Donoghue on Silver. Tullow’s second team, team Blue also qualified for the jump-off, but two unlucky poles on the ground kept them out of the line-up. Tullow’s win also secured the school third place in the league.

There was some compensation for the Tullow blue team, when they were judged to be best turned out. Newbridge College (Chance and Sophie Flood, La Vie et Belle with Caton Fought, Mountain Girl ridden by Bobby Weld and Bandit and Ellen Mooney) were adrift by only a second to take second place. Newbridge also secured second place in the league. Third place went to Loreto Wexford Yellow, represented by Anna Radford riding Essener Double Dubh, Flo and Sarah Cousins, Clogorrow’s Sally with Aoife Crean and Faye Howlin riding Trickey Steven D. This was enough to secure the pole position in the novice league table.

A second Loreto Wexford team, Brown, was fifth with Coláiste Mhuire Thurles (Hilltop Supreme and Ben Nolan, Max Doyle on Carhill Sharkey, Lisrobin Ben and Camilla Kerwick and Tynagh Jaxon and Mya Dunne) separating the two Wexford teams claiming fourth.

Sixth place on the day went to St Gerard’s Bray represented by Arraghbeg Honey and Nina Boydell, Harvey ridden by Lily Maloney, Ella Bella and Honor Mullion and Carnakilly Riley and Victoria Roche. This secured St Gerard’s fourth place in the league. Taking the remaining league points on offer on the day was Kilkenny College. Although not placed on the day, Borris VS and St Mary’s New Ross had enough accumulated points to be fifth and sixth in the league.

The novice 80 championship followed and Jack Hargadon from Newbridge riding PJ won the class, ahead of Sophie Crosthwaite on Ballydeely Kate from Loreto Abbey in second and Ailbhe Delahunty from Mount Anville junior school in third. Jack Codd from St Peter’s College Wexford riding Bally C Pip, Isobelle Ó Conaola from St Brigid’s Loughrea and Amy Rowland on Jasmine from Mount Anville were fourth, fifth and sixth. Ailbhe Delahunty was best turned out.

Primary

Meanwhile, in the indoor arena under judge Laura O’Connell, the primary competitors had a great time at their Championships. Screen National School made their journey worthwhile, when they claimed the winners’ rugs in the team competition. The team from Screen was Hannah Kavanagh on Creevagh Lass, CBS Senka and Mary Kate Kelly, Curraghmore Sparrow with Shannon Griffith and Interstella and Caitlin Griffith. Scoil Diarmada (Katie Gannon on Rinka, Ivy ridden by Sophie White, Pixie and Maya White and Anna Curry on Walter) was second.

The 75cm Championship class was won by Hazel Slattery riding Stormy for Kilraine National School with Shannon Griffith on Curraghmore Sparrow from Screen in second place. The second-place finish was enough to secure the EII75cm league for Shannon. Third place on the day went to Ailbhe Delahunty on Buster representing Mount Anville junior and she also placed second in the league. Fourth place on the day went to Caitlin Griffith on Interstella from Screen, with Dualla National School representative Kate Brown Souza on Stilo Smartie and Ruby Cousins on Bluebell from Kilmore in fifth and sixth. Ruby was also third in the league.

Although not placed on the day, Ruby Cousins, Anna Curry and Hazel Slattery were fourth, fifth and sixth in the league. The 55cm Championship was won by Hannah Kavanagh riding Creevagh Lass for Screen. Amelia Jones from Rathcoffey riding Sonia was second and Diego ridden by Patrick Fenton for St Michael’s junior school was third. Maya White on Pixie for Scoil Diarmada Mary Kate Kelly and CBS Senka from Screen and Pantyfid Prince William and Ava Mooney from Rathcoffey were fourth, fifth and sixth.

EII wishes all their members good luck in their equestrian pursuits over the year and look forward to them all competing again for their schools in the next season.