MEMBERS of the Association of Irish Riding Clubs have plenty of opportunities to compete over this Bank Holiday weekend, with some preparing for the AIRC/Connolly’s Red Mills national hunter trials by heading to open cross-country events nationwide.

On the AIRC front, the third leg of the West Midlands Region’s spring show jumping league takes place today at the Garranemore Equestrian Centre, Pallasgreen, Co Limerick, where it will be hosted by Sarsfield Riding Club. The league continues on Sunday next, March 23rd, at Clonshire, concluding seven days later at Golden Grove.

The Mosstown Club in the Midlands Region is holding the third and final leg of its show jumping league tomorrow at its base of Mosstown Stables, Kenagh, Co Longford.

In the North East, they are taking this weekend off from regional action, following the third leg of its Easyway spring show jumping league, which was hosted by the Boyneside Club at the National Horse Sport Arena last Sunday. Next Sunday’s fourth round will be hosted by the Mullaghmore Club at its base of the Mullaghmore Equestrian Centre, Tydavnet, Co Monaghan.

League leaders

At this halfway stage, the league leaders are Border Counties’ Orla O’Connor (Newcomers cross-poles), Mullaghmore’s Alyson Reilly (Newcomers’ 50cm), Mullaghmore’s Niamh McCarra (Newcomers 60cm), Drynam’s Jenny Bates (RC70), Boyneside’s Justin Nevin and Mullaghmore’s Kerrie Ryan (RC70 open), Drynam’s Jenny Bates (RC80), Mullaghmore’s Caoimhe McCarra (RC80 open), Drynam’s Carmel Seaver (RC90), Mullaghmore’s Alisha O’Hara (RC90 open), Castle Leslie’s Louise Flynn (RC100), Mullaghmore’s Katie Creegan (RC100 open) and Headfort’s Rachel Muldoon (RC110/RC120).

It’s a similar situation in the South East Region, where they are taking the weekend off from their dressage league, which will recommence on Sunday next, March 23rd, when the Carne Club hosts the next leg at Wexford Equestrian. The final will be staged by the Barrow Valley Club on Sunday, March 30th at Carrigbeg Riding School, Bagenalstown, Co Carlow.

South West

In the South West Region, they are holding the second day of arena eventing training today at Ballindenisk, Watergrasshill, Co Cork; this is supported by an AIRC training bursary. A competition day takes place on Saturday, March 29th, when preference will be given to those who attended the training days. If all places aren’t filled, entry will then be opened up to other members in the Region.

In the large West Region, the fourth and final leg of the spring show jumping league in the north west area will be held next Sunday, March 23rd at the Greenacres Stud and Equestrian Centre, Convoy, Co Donegal while, in the south of the Region, the final of the show jumping league at the Ennis showgrounds takes place on the same day.

Calliaghstown Riding Club is hosting the second leg of the West Leinster Region’s dressage league on St Patrick’s Day, Monday next, March 17th, at its base Calliaghstown Equestrian Centre, Rathcoole, Co Dublin.

The Greenhills Club hosted the first leg last Sunday at CoilÓg, while the third round will be staged by the Winterdown Club on Saturday next, March 22nd, at JAG Equestrian, Naas. The league is being sponsored by Furey Consulting and Anglesey Lodge Equine Hospital.

The annual general meeting of the Association of Irish Riding Clubs takes place on Thursday week, March 27th, at the Killeshin Hotel, Portlaoise, commencing at 7.30pm.