ON Saturday, Simmonscourt was packed to capacity as enthusiastic spectators gathered for the Children on Horses Championship. The competition featured four teams competing in the Nations Cup format. Following a very close competition, it was the Johnny O’Connell team of Sam Widger (Jerenice Dysenbeeck Z), Matilde Hughes Bravo (Miss Belgium 111), Lily P Slattery (Captain Candy Man) and Arielle Allen (Kandice Z) that took the title, when they finished on a score of four faults.

In the first round, Lily P Slattery proved out of luck, when she was the only rider of the team that had a pole on the floor. Slattery returned in the second round to go clear, as did her fellow teammates. The runner-up spot was claimed by the Tommy Gibbons Green team of Henry Sinnott (Ridge Doughlas Lady), Daisy O’Dea (CSF Zurich), Ella Rush (Beach Buggy) and Max Galway (Cassido). Max Galway provided the discard score of eight faults in the first round, while his teammates maintained clean sheets. In the second round, Galway had an unfortunate eight faults, while Sinnott had one on the ground. With Galway’s score being used as the discard, the team carried four faults.

Taking third place was Nicola Fitzgibbon’s Red Team consisting of Alice Hartford (Kilderrys Joint Venture), Jack Murphy (Sam Salad), Isabelle Ó Conaola (Earl Grey’s Last Cruise) and Colm Widger (Grantstown Charmer). Jack Murphy and Sam Salad provided the discard score of 12 faults, while his teammates each had one on the ground in the first round. In the second round, the team put in a great performance, with Hartford, Ó Conaola and Widger all delivering clears. It just wasn’t Murphy’s day, as he finished on 18 faults in the second round. The team total in the end was 12 faults in a time of 210.42.

Taking fourth place was the Pink Team of Commandant Sharon Crean on a final score of 12 faults in a time of 218.98. The quartet was made up of Alayna Hawkins (Harry Beau Bay), Caoimhe O’Meara (Croghan Hill Ace), Juliana Duffy (Castlefield Blue) and Honor Bills-Everett (MHS Cuffesgrange). In the first round, Juliana Duffy delivered the only clear round, with her other teammates all having just one on the ground. In the second round, Hawkins and Honor Bills-Everett delivered clears, while O’Meara and Duffy had a single pole on the ground.

Individual Championship

On Sunday afternoon, 16 riders contested the individual championship, with five delivering clear rounds to book their place against the clock and determine the final placings.

To be in with a chance of a win, riders needed to get a good shot back to the double and later to the water tray fence. Along with this, a tight line back to the penultimate fence and a strong gallop to the last was what was required to take the win.

Claiming the 2024 title was Sam Widger and Jerenice Dysenbeeck Z. First to go against the clock, Widger meant business, as he set off at a blistering pace. He got a great shot back to the double and matched it with a tight right hand turn back to the water tray. A daring gallop to the last saw him set the winning time of 31.92 and take the title home to Waterford.

Speaking afterwards, Sam said: “I am absolutely thrilled to win this class, especially as it is my last year in the Children on Horses division. My brother Colm was also in the final with me. We are trained by my father Robert. It has been a great year for me, as a member of the two winning Nations Cups teams and we also went to the Europeans.”

There were anxious moments for Widger, as Arielle Allen and Kandice Z followed a similar route, but despite this great attempt, a clear in 31.95 saw them take the reserve title.

Second to go, Matilde Hughes Bravo, put in a great round with Miss Belgium 111, delivering a clear in 32.24, which would later see her take third place.

Jack Murphy opted for a safe clear with Sam Salad, but unfortunately it didn’t materialise, as he hit the last oxer and stopped the clock in a time of 36.07 for fifth place.

Last to go, Henry Sinnott wasted no time with Ridge Douglas Lady, as he took all the necessary tight turns. Sinnott was up on target, but a tight turn to the water tray cost him dearly, as it fell to the floor, and four faults in 31.22 saw them take fifth place.

Ella Rush and Beach Buggy proved out of luck when they recorded a single time fault in the first round (83.24), but it was enough to take sixth place.