THE Meadows EC Centre was a hive of activity on Saturday for the start of the annual inter-schools show jumping league which, this year, has the added attraction of securing title sponsorship from TRI, the Co Kildare-based equestrian superstore. One could easily have thought that the Aga Khan Trophy was up for grabs, such was the intensity of competition at all three levels.

The novice class attracted most entries with 18 teams and 50 individuals from right across Northern Ireland battling it out for the top spot. The first competitor was in the arena on the stroke of 9am and, after numerous changes on the leader board, victory was finally secured by Moira Primary School. The Moira students were one of seven teams to complete on a zero score, a remarkable result given that the average age of the competitors was under 10.