BAD weather did not deter the enthusiastic riders and supporters attending the East Glendalough School-hosted leg of the TRI Equestrian Interschools last Sunday at Wexford Equestrian Centre. Mercedes Benz Ireland’s generous sponsorship saw teams competing for beautiful prizes.

First into the fray were the primary teams division and it was the team from St Brigid’s Grange NS of Lucy (James Mulhall), Anna (Lulu Rose Mulhall), Molly (Cillian Tobin) and Smokey (Rocco Mulhall) who claimed the first prize ahead of Scoil Diarmada Castledermott’s Pippy (Mia White), Dolly (Anna Curry), Belle (Oisin Phelan) and Melody (Eimear White) in second. The Scoil Mochua Nuns Cross team of Pugsy (Louisa Smith), Fernhill Ruby (Lilly Mai Gallagher), Nakita (Ellie Sheane) and Annie (Isla Coad) were third.

Coad and Kennedy score wins

This was followed by the EII 70cm individual league class, sponsored by Cooley Farm, which went the way of St Savour Rathdrum rider Isla Coad on The Wow Cow. St Savours’ Charlotte Goor riding Charlie was second and Tynock NS rider Lucy Darby on Darkly slotted into third place.

The final competition in the outdoor arena, just before the really bad weather struck, was the Fairlands Equine Clinic 80cm fun novice event, open to both novice secondary school riders and primary school riders.

Colaiste Bhride Enniscorthy’s representative Sarah Kennedy (Kilcarrig Delight) was the fastest to claim first place ahead of runner-up Lucy Darby on Darkly for Tynock NS, and Kilrane NS rider Hannah Rose Roche on Angel in third.

Win for East Glenalough

In the meantime, the indoor action was well under way. The Mercedes Benz-sponsored novice teams saw the host school’s novice team of Mayfield Boy (Skyla Nally), Pixie Magic (Sarah Curry), Reilly (Anna Morrissey) and Sunny Girl (Rosie Coad) emerge as worthy winners with local school Loreto Wexford’s Leo (Faye Murphy), Curraghmore Sparrow (Ashley Durack), Shakespeare Romeo (Cora Finn) and Tomoka Spots (Kiera Crowther) in second. These two schools are currently battling it out at the top of the novice teams league.

The St Declan’s Community College team of Zeus (Kiera Reilly), Dudes Law (Aoife Lenihan), Hugo (Darragh Walsh) and Annandale Royal Mint (Conor Cusack) were third with Presentation Wexford and Loreto Wexford’s two other novice teams taking fourth, fifth and sixth.

Qualifying slots

The Equieire EII90cm qualifier class, sponsored on the day by Newtown Medical Practise, was hotly contested. The qualifying slots went to Niamh Tobin on Hershey’s Kiss for Tullow Community School, East Glendalough’s Rosie Coad on Sunny Girl, Mackenzie Martin on Little May for Blackwater Community School, Bridgetown College representatives Owen Carroll (Joey) and Sophie Whitehead (Mollie) and in sixth Skyler Nally (Hayfield Boy) for East Glendalough.

Gorey team shines

The TRI Equestrian open teams’ event followed. Three teams made it through to the jump-off and the fastest time was posted by Gorey Community School. Gorey Community’s team members were Reggie (Jessica Murphy), Billy (Ciara O’Connor), Sparrow (Lauren Spencer) and Abby Brook Auro (Angela McGee). They just got the better of East Glendalough’s Firebolt (Robert Cherry), BallyKnock Obos Hollywood (Jazmine Arthur), Shergar Rose (Anna Morrisey) and Rusheen Duff (Conor Doyle) in second. Dominican College, represented by Slanelough Supremacy (Naoise O’Neill), Westbrooke Dancer (Casey Neville), Drumlane Oscar (Baylee Neville) and Monalease (Megan Neville), slotted into third. The remaining league points went to Colaiste Bhride Carnew, Borris Vocational School and Presentation Wexford.

Byrne wins again

The TRI open individual league once again went the way of the very consistent Cian Byrne riding Hunter’s Lodge Puissance for Colaiste Bhride Carnew. Dominican College rider Baylee Neville riding Drumlane Oscar claimed second place ahead of Colaiste Bhride Carnew’s Hannah O’Neill on Drummin Pretty Lady in third.

The remaining league points went to Anna Morrisey, Lucy Rhatigan and Cathy Doyle.

Win for Arthur

The final competition of the day was the HSI 110cm class, which was sponsored on the day by Prunella Dobbs Racing. East Glendalough’s All That Jazz, ridden by Jasmine Arthur, was a worthy winner just pipping Colaiste Brid Carnew’s Chloe Walsh on Althorp into the runner-up spot and Aine Kavanagh (Newmarket Angle) for Borris Vocational School in third. Arthur also claimed fourth place ahead of Sarah Sheppard and Robert Cherry in fifth and sixth place.

Action at Ower Equestrian Centre

On the same day in the west, Ower Equestrian Centre, Roscahill, Co Galway ran a leg of the TRI Interschools league and qualifiers. It was well supported by local schools, particularly in the novice classes.

The EII novice team competition went the way of the combined team from St Paul’s Secondary School Oughterard/Presentation College Headford, represented by Quiltamia (Sophie Lee), Coshla Sparrow (Doireann Clancy), Knockillare Leona (Dervla Foley) and Ballinduff Boy (Finn Reynolds) ahead of Clifden Community School’s Charles (Aoife Nee), Lilly (Clodagh O’Toole), Izzy (Sadbh O’Toole) and Southern Starlight (Eimear Nee) in second and Holy Rosary College Mountbellew’s Fusion (Sorcha McDonagh), Harry (Saoirse Loftus) and Julian (Isobel Dermody) in third.

Win for Kelly

The Equieire EII 90cm qualifier was won by Black Pearl ridden by Heather Kelly for Clarin College, Athenry. Doireann Clancy (Coshla Sparrow) for St Paul’s Secondary School, Oughterard placed second.

Ava McCarthy (Lily White) from Salerno Secondary School won the fun novice class just beating Rebecca Ni Mhaonghaile (Kane) for Scoil Chuimsitheach Chiaráin in second and Ava Joyce (Judy) for Dominican College Taylor’s Hill.

Donohue triumphs

Barnaboy Shauna, ridden by Laura Donohue for St Brigid’s College, Loughrea won the TRI Equestrian open individual competition while Clifden Community School’s Eimear Nee (Charlie) of Blakehill came first in the HSI 110cm qualifier with Niamh Donohue (Barnaby Shauna) from St. Brigid’s College Loughrea in second place.

Letterfrack NS won the primary teams class. Letterfrack was represented by Southern Star light (Cadhla Curran), Iskaheen Olaf (Kerris Mae O’Toole), and Danville Sundance (Yann O’Toole) while the Primary individual class went to Nathan Regan (Freddie) for Scoil Bhride Lackagh ahead of Ella Herlihy (Sammy) and Kerris Mae O’Toole (Iskaheen Olaf).

The TRI Equestrian Interschools league action remains at the Wexford Equestrian Centre this weekend where Good Counsel College are the hosts.