SUNDAY, October 27th, saw Barrow Valley Riding Club host the penultimate leg of the AIRC Show Jumping League, which kicked off in September and has since moved around the South East region, being hosted by a different club each week.

The extra hour in bed paid off for the Barrow Valley Riding Club team, as alarms went off to get everyone on site to commence the show at Carrigbeg Riding Stables, by kind permission of Susan Patterson. While the first rider of the 52 entries of the day took to the warm up, the prizes kindly sponsored by Bagenalstown Country Store and Kate’s Tack Shop were put on display, the photographer John O’Carroll got in position and judge Rory O’Sullivan gave a final check over the Susan Patterson-designed course.

First up was the newcomers’ class, where Lorne Deegan (Ballycanew RC) riding Woodlawn Alfie topped the podium, followed by host club’s Harry Doran on his young horse Jackson. Third and fourth place went to JJ Bolger (The Rower RC) with his two steeds, Castlehill Lily and Inbhear Lady Lauren respectively. The RC70 class saw another red go to the Deegan family, as a hoof-perfect round meant the win went to Patrick Deegan (Ballycanew RC) riding Last Masterpiece, leaving the newest-joined Barrow Valley member Shauna Meany riding Mooncan Star to take second on their debut outing.

Laura Barron (Waterford RC) riding Franklins Vision won both the RC70 Open and the RC80 classes at the AIRC Show Jumping League held at Carrigbeg Riding Stables \ John O’Carroll

RC70

The RC70 Open saw seven riders battle it out for the spoils, with optimum time being the deciding factor, as only 0.03 seconds separated first and second place to give Laura Barron (Waterford RC) riding Franklins Vision the edge over Isabelle Rouviere (Carne RC) riding Jasmine Van Ter Notelaere. Third place also went to Carne, as Roisin Sutton riding Broomhill Bailey left all the poles in situ, as did the host club’s Grace Cantlon with Emlough Alexander in fourth. Harry Doran (Barrow Valley RC) got his second ribbon, finishing fifth, whilst the final spot in the line-up went to the Deegan family once again, this time to Deirdre Deegan (Ballycanew RC) riding Dexters Pride.

RC80

In the largest class of the day, Laura Barron (Waterford RC) with Franklin’s Vision, fresh off their earlier success, continued their winning form to claim a second red of the day, this time in the RC80, having the only clear round of the class. Hot on their heels was Tony Behan (Coole Lane RC) riding Cappard Brownie, as they stormed into second place, giving the pair their hat-trick of consecutive second places in this class.

Third place went to Stephanie Bryan (Killotteran RC) riding Hazelwood Levi, fourth place to Ger Curtis Hammel (Carne RC), fifth spot to Mia Ryan (Nuenna RC) and Máire Ní Dhiomsaigh (Carne RC) placed sixth.

The RC80 Open proved to be exciting, with clear rounds coming thick and fast, meaning the optimum time was of major influence on what turned out to be a Barrow Valley Riding Club head-to-head for the top two spots. Sandra Moran riding My Johnstown North Star, being just 0.19 seconds off the optimum time, held the lead from Louise O’Neill riding Derrylackey Emma. Isabelle Rouviere (Carne RC) riding Jasmine Van Ter Notelaere took third place, fourth went to Rosie Deegan Byrne (Tinahely RC), Mia Ryan (Nuenna Farm) was fifth and Madeleine Bradley (Coole Lane RC) placed sixth. It was a second win for host club’s Sandra Moran and her five-year-old chesnut ISH gelding, My Johnston North Star, in the Young Horse class.

RC90

Next up was the RC90 class, which was won by Stephanie Hoyne (Thomastown & District RC) with her horse Midnight Mischa, with the only clear round of this class in a time of 37.56 seconds. They were a hard act to compete with, but JJ Bolger (The Rower) riding Misty Princess put on an impressive performance to finish in a time of 36.34 seconds with a costly four faults meaning a second-place finish.

Madeleine Bradley (Coole Lane RC) riding Moon gave the leaders a run for their money, stopping the clock in 36.42 seconds, with four faults dropping the pair into third place. Fourth went to host club member Valerie Crean riding Kildoon Trix, while Rosie Deegan Byrne (Tinahely RC) and John Kearney (Warrington RC) placed fifth and sixth respectively.

The RC90 Open class was a two-horse contest between Roisin Power (Thomastown & District RC) riding Garnagree Uptown Girl and Joan Sinnott (Ballycanew RC) riding The Ozzie Way. It wasn’t to be Ozzie’s Way on this occasion, as Uptown Girl crossed the line in the fastest time to take the spoils.

The last course height change saw the RC100 class get underway. JJ Bolger (The Rower RC) riding Misty Princess may have had to settle for second in their earlier class, but that wasn’t the case here, as the pair crossed the line in the fastest time of 39.38 seconds. Joan Sinnott (Ballycanew RC) with The Ozzie Way picked up their second blue of the day, while Roisin Digby (Thomastown & District RC) and The Best of Friends sailed into third spot. Fourth and fifth place went to Abigail Kent (Horetown RC) and Roisin Power (Thomastown & District RC) respectively.

As the rain began to bucket down, the show concluded with riders looking forward to the last leg and league final being hosted by Warrington RC tomorrow (Sunday, November 3rd).