WHILE there was no need for a jump-off, there was a close result to Sunday’s TRI Equestrian RC90 team competition at the Association of Irish Riding Clubs’ Festival at the Mullingar Equestrian Centre.

Following two rounds of jumping, only one fault separated the winners, Tynagh (seven faults), from the runners-up, Thomastown and District (eight). With no discard score, the Coole Lane trio of Ciara Shannon, Lauryn Faulker and chairwoman Melanie Behan finished third on 12 faults.

Best for the winners, with a double clear apiece, were Diane Baylis Maher (Lilly Dane) and Laura Kyne (Barnaboy Flashy). Dorothy Leahy McAlinden (Crannmore Lass) had a fence down in both rounds, while Kate Noone (K Autumn Pride) provided the discard score in round one, but the counting score of three faults in round two.

The Thomastown and District scores were much more mixed, but the format kept the result tight. Sheena Holt (Wemyss Bay) picked up four faults in round one, but then jumped clear; Gillian Cody (Lisbrien Boy) jumped a clear first round, but was then eliminated; Stephanie Hoyne (Midnight Mischa) provided the discard score in round one, but then jumped clear; while Patricia Molloy (Mealaughmore Joe) went clear in round one, but had a fence down in round two.

Only three teams entered Sunday’s team challenge, two competed and the comfortable winners on four faults were the Burren trio of Geraldine McMahon (Greenlough JJ), Margaret Corry (Quintano B) and Marita Byrne (Don Brook). Those who competed across the three disciplines on Sunday had much the worse of the weather.

The individual class of note was that for young horses, which was won comfortably by Mosstown’s Tom Whyte on his home-bred Irish Sport Horse gelding Ardagh Amplify, who has 30 Showjumping Ireland points to his credit. The five-year-old is by Coolkeeran out of the unraced thoroughbred mare Ardagh Echo (by Warcraft).