ONLY the May Bank Holiday weather was a match for a delighted Castle Carraig team that shone at the western qualifier for a brand-new AIRC Festival championship.

The Festival addition is an RC 70 and RC 80 team jumping series, open to teams of three or four riders. One team from each of the eight nationwide qualifiers goes forward to the final at the annual AIRC Festival weekend, set to take place at Mullingar Equestrian Centre (June 8th-9th).

According to Ita Walsh, secretary of Tynagh Riding Club, which organised last Sunday’s western region qualifier at Ballinasloe Showgrounds, the new championship is already proving popular with members.

“This new 70cm/80cm qualifier event was extremely popular with the grassroot members in Tynagh RC, so much so that we were in the fortunate position of being able to field two teams.

“The event created a great buzz in the club and gave our grassroot members the chance to experience the atmosphere and excitement of a team qualifier event. It’s an event we feel will grow, year on year, in popularity.”

Travelling the furthest to Ballinasloe was the colourfully-coordinated Stracomer team of Eilish McCalgie (Poppy), Roisin Scully (Just William), Clodagh Ní Bhrádaigh (Ballyclogher Queen) and Vicki Hopkins (Madges Lane Jen).

Western area teams hoping to qualify for the AIRC dressage championships at Barnadown, will clock up the same mileage when the Donegal district riding clubs hold a dressage qualifier at Eglinton Equestrian Centre (May 25th).

Sunday’s hosts, Tynagh, had a much shorter journey to make and, if Carlsberg did great team bonding competitions, then this was one.

Their teams were made up of Birgit Lohmann (Drumully Jackson), Rebecca Trouson (Ferro Di Cavallo), Jacinta Colohan (Ashlea’s The Boss) and Mary Lawless (Ashtree Flash), and then Aidan Dolan (Ringwood Pommello), Dermot Goode (Elvis Flaming Star), Kathrina O’Shea (Chianti To HSH) and Rachel O’Shea (Kilconickny Champagne).

While some of Mayo’s horse community were away for the weekend in the Banner County, attending the wedding of Sean Bourke and Catríon Page, two teams travelled to Ballinasloe: Westport and Barnacarroll.

Westport’s team of Ciara Nevin (Drummin Star), Margaret Kelly (Derrada Betty Boop), Liza McGowan (George) and Mona Purcell (Balladubh Lady) finished third while Barnacarroll, based at Upper Mace Equestrian Centre, mustered up Paula Campbell (Oreo Magic), Lauren Gallagher (Goulane Shiloh) and Jillian Cooper (Cookies Moonlight).

The trio finished on a final total of nine faults, one fence behind the winners, Castle Carraig (five).

The winning Castle Carraig team of Amie Barrett, Monica Hegarty, Karina Mescal and captain Deirdre Cronin were “delighted” with their win and the prospect of competing at the Festival.

“Monica had to tear herself away from her newborn grandson to make the day, jumping a lovely double clear on Lucky’s Girl. Monica’s daughter Niamh is also an avid Riding Club member,” said Amie, introducing her teammates.

“I have my horse only six months and unfortunately, broke my collarbone in December. This was my first show back. I had only jumped twice beforehand, with Oscar The Star living up to his name and minding me! We had four faults in both rounds, but a delighted rider.”

“Dee [Deirdre] on her powerhouse Connemara, Ardsberg Buddy (Draí) jumped two beautiful rounds and Karina also produced two fabulous clear rounds. Her horse is named I’m Finished Hunting, but he certainly is not finished jumping!”

“You ordered a puppucino?” Kaleigh Dolan looks after Woody, with Tynagh RC PRO Eilish McCarthy and her dad Gerry in the background \ Susan Finnerty

Based in Ennis, several Castle Carraig members turned out again the next day for cheerleading and competition duties in Banner Equestrian Centre’s spring league final.

Last Sunday started off well for Benbulben, with Finola Murphy and the dun half-Connemara Pot O Honey winning the opening 70cm class, ahead of Tynagh’s Gillian Kidd and her Mullagh Jamie. After that, Tynagh sailed into top gear with its members Regina Fahy (Stoneman Tiger Moth), Amanda Haugh (Cartenio) and Thomas Daniels, back again with Barnaboy Jackeen, winning the remaining classes.

Benbulben has a good track record at Ballinasloe, where the all-weather arena facilities have proved a magnet for western clubs.

On the previous Sunday, Benbulben’s team of Cara Conway (Cooley Are Cruising), Sarah Dunleavy (Lecarrow Silver Shadow), Deirdre Dolan (Roscrib Harry) and captain Vanessa Sweeney (Woodbank Clover) won the western qualifier for the AIRC team show jumping championship at Dublin Horse Show.

Runners-up were the host team Tynagh: Kayleigh Starr (Ryan’s Chateau), Dorothy McAlinden (Knockash Galanta), Eilish McCarthy (Diamond Rose Lad) and captain Thomas Daniels (Barnaboy Jackeen).

Tony Ennis, Sunday’s course builder, judge and compere, also jumped a clear round with ‘Hurricane’ \ Susan Finnerty

Horses as a hobby..

WEATHER makes or breaks an event. Sunday’s glorious sunshine and hospitality definitely added to the pre-Festival atmosphere at the western qualifier. And the hobby horses, that have now become a Tynagh Riding Club trademark, made another appearance.

“Last year at a club meeting, when we were planning our Club Show, it was proposed to have a novelty event and inject as much fun as possible into the show,” said Ita Walsh, explaining their unique props.

“During the meeting, several ideas were put forward and someone had seen on TikTok where hobby horses were used as pretend horses in an adult dressage competition. It was decided that we would use the hobby horses for the novelty class and have relay teams instead, made up of members from different riding clubs.

“Names for each team were randomly pulled out, each team had a few minutes to get to know each other and decide their running order before taking on an obstacle course, which they ran with their hobby horse. The horse was passed like a baton - sometimes thrown! - between each team member when they finished the course.

“To say it was a success was an understatement, people are still talking about it. Bellyache laughter from start to finish and many new friends were made during the event. The hobby horses haven’t been getting too much time off, as they also made an appearance in the St Patrick’s Day parade and were out again with the girls at the qualifier.”

Kaleigh Dolan, Rebecca Maher and Robyn Cowhie O’Shea, all daughters of Tynagh RC members, were in full flight all day with the horses. Even a busy Tony Ennis, on multi-tasking duty as course builder, judge and commentator, was persuaded to take ‘Hurricane’ for a spin over a fence!

Happiness is: Castle Carraig’s Karina Mescal, Dee Cronin and Amie Barrett hear Tony Ennis announce they’ve just qualified for the AIRC Festival final \ Susan Finnerty

Fair find

One intriguing name that has consistently appeared in The Irish Field results pages over the winter is that of I’m Finished Hunting. Practically every week, he and Karina Mescal were amongst the Banner Equestrian Centre results and the pair finished up in Monday’s final as the 80cm league winners.

“It was an amazing weekend!” said Belgian-born Karina, one of several Riding Club members, who have made the west of Ireland their home. Birgit Lohmann, from Germany and Australian-born Rebecca Trouson, who made her way west after several years living in London, are two ex-pats on the Tynagh teams.

“My parents left Belgium when I was 16 years old and moved to west Cork. I couldn’t even speak fluent English at the time!” said Karina, who now lives in west Clare with husband Michael.

The couple found the coloured gelding at Cahirmee Fair in 2005. “I nearly left him after me, as I thought he wasn’t big enough and he hadn’t the nicest of hindlegs! We also purchased two budgies on the same day, so I had them in one hand and ‘Sparky’ in the other, walking out of the fair that evening.

“He was bought to make a profit and was sold again as a two-year-old, but the man never turned up with the money. When he was three-and-a-half, I found myself without a hunting horse, decided to break in Sparky and off we went with the Co Clare Hunt. He was brilliant from the word go and it was the start of nearly 14 years hunting.”

Unfortunately for the two keen hunters, an injury ended the pair’s hunting days. “I loved the hunting so much, but sitting in the saddle for over three hours twice a week wasn’t possible any more.

“Luckily, I joined Castle Carraig RC and had to apply for a passport for the first time for Sparky with a choice of four names. I’m Finished Hunting was the last name and I never actually thought they would pick it!

“I couldn’t be happier now, because the people I met at the riding club are the most welcoming, genuine and helpful bunch ever. It took a while for Sparky to get used to show jumping, and me too, but he’s so good. He’s 20 years old this year and I was so lucky he wasn’t sold so many years ago.”

And, if ever a certain Hollywood actor needs a quiet horse for a hack when visiting his Clare relatives, Karina could always offer Sparky to Paul Mescal.

“Paul’s father, also called Paul, is my husband’s older brother. Last time I was talking to young Paul, he was filming the Gladiator sequel and had to learn to ride horses for the film! He said he understands now why we like horses so much, as he’s also taking a liking to them now!”

Bank Holiday booked at Ballinasloe

BALLINASLOE is brimful of equine history. Metres away from the Showgrounds, where Cahirmee buy I’m Finished Hunting competed last Sunday, is the six-acre Fair Green, where another and largest of Ireland’s horse fairs takes place.

Ballinasloe Show is reputed to be the country’s oldest agricultural show and, from a gathering of show jumping competitors at the former Hayden’s Hotel sprang up, the idea of the present-day SJI.

Then known as Gills Hotel, the premises was once a Bianconi coach stopping point.

Bianconi coach horses were stabled in Ivers Lane, just down the street from Gullane’s Hotel, the recent setting for the launch of another bank holiday event pencilled in for the Showgrounds.

The recently reformed Galway branch of the Irish Draught Horse Breeders Association (IDHBA) will hold a well-sponsored show on Saturday, June 1st. Its schedule includes classes for broodmares, foals, youngstock, ridden and performance Irish Draughts, followed by supreme in-hand and ridden championship titles.

The show was launched by Mayor of Galway City Cllr Eddie Hoare, whose uncle Pat is the chairman of the Galway branch and stands several well-known Irish Draught stallions, including the full-brothers Moylough Legacy and Moylough Supremacy, frequently in the Dublin ribbons.

The Mayor, along with colleagues Cllr Declan Geraghty and Cllr Dermot Connolly and Horse Sport Ireland CEO Denis Duggan, spoke of the importance of the Irish Draught breed and its contribution to the Irish economy.

He also commended the committee and branch members for reviving the Galway branch after a lull. More stallion owners in attendance included Ballinamore Bridge Stud owner Martin Shaughnessy, accompanied by his grandson Jack (Martin’s uncles, the O’Connors, also stood the famous Renwood, mentioned in the recent Limerick heritage feature, after his later move to Co Galway), Cappa Stud’s Jimmy Quinn and Christy O’Connor.

See the Galway Branch IDHBA Facebook page for show details.