THE finale to the busy Interschools season was held last Sunday at Wexford Equestrian. A large turnout of enthusiasts were present including Interschools stalwarts Paul Cuddihy, Linda Dunne, Mary Rothwell, Helen O’Neill, Yvonne Byrne and Alyssa O’Neill, as well as Ger O’Kane from TRI Equestrian (complete with a very popular carrot stand). Emma Keogh and Johnathan Finnegan from Equieire presented the prizes for the competitions they sponsor.

The action started at 8.30am with the EII Novice team class where 16 teams lined up to compete in the Championship competition on the day with points and a half on offer to decide the EII League. The competition went down to the wire with a jump-off between seven teams deciding the top six places, and shaking up the league placings to decide the overall winner. Local school Loreto Wexford had two teams through to the jump-off and finished in first and second place.

They were represented by Loreto Wexford white’s Joplin (Sarah Cousins), Hobbinstown Hero (Kate Jordan), Loyal Gem (Leah Murphy) and Bella Nugget (Isabell Walsh) with runners-up Loreto Wexford red’s Shakespeare Romeo Montague (Cora Finn), Starlight Express (Amy Griffith), My Bay Bouncer (Ava Murphy) and Wnda Toby (Aoife Griffith). Third place went to Gorey Community School’s Daisy Daisy (Amber Farrell), Peppard Castle Donnie (Alexandra Cassidy), Chapel Hill Ebony (Susan O’Brien) and Tullowcussane Larry (Emma O’Sullivan) with Kilkenny College in fourth, Newbridge College in fifth and Presentation Wexford sixth. The other team through to the jump-off was St Peter’s Dunboyne and while they placed seventh on the day, their league points to date ensured they claimed third in the league.

Loreto Wexford’s win cemented their place in the league and they are the EII Novice Team League winners for 2023 with Newbridge College in second and the aforementioned St Peters in the third. The schools completing the league round-up were Gorey CS, St Gerard’s Bray and Kilkenny College. Kilkenny College also claimed the best turned out prize.

O’Neill takes victory

The much-anticipated Equieire EII 90 cm final (for which riders had to qualify throughout the year) was next with 41 combinations lining out. Ellen O’Neill representing Newbridge College riding Lisrua Heidi emerged victorious ahead of St Andrew’s Sophie Crosthwaite riding Ballydeely Kate and WNDA Toby, ridden by Aoife Griffith, for Loreto Wexford in third. The final places went to Jack Jones on Billy for St Peter’s Wexford, Shanaya Glynn on Mighty Man for Gorey and Redshire Molly and Kate Walsh riding for Loreto Wexford. Walsh also claimed the best turned out prize. Emma Keogh from Equieire was on hand to present the coveted Equieire rug and prizes.

Exciting final

Open action then followed with the TRI Equestrian League Final with qualification for the Bluegrass Balmoral Show Jumping Championships up for grabs. While Loreto Wexford’s Secco (Jessie Murphy), Robin (Faye Murphy) and Lisseyegan Geoffrey (Taylor Peare) claimed victory in the Championship competition, on the day it was Coláiste Bhríde Carnew’s team who emerged victorious in the league ahead of East Glendalough in second and Newbridge College in third.

The remaining league placings went to Gorey CS, Ashbourne CS and Loreto Wexford and the top five gained Balmoral qualification, with that competition to take place on May 13th. Loreto Wexford took reserve.

Taking second place on the day was Glendalough School’s Blackhall Summer (Rosie Coad), Jaxlexi (Skyla Nally), Athena Treasure (Sarah Curry) and Royal Mardi Gras (Anna Morrisey) with eventual league winners Coláiste Bhríde’s HL Todd (Cian Byrne), Galtee Shadow (Johnnie Shepard), Drummin Pretty Lady (Hannah O’Neill) and Lunasa Cruise (Sophie Wilson) in third. The remaining placings on the day went to Newbridge College, Presentation Wexford and Gorey CS. Newbridge College claimed the best turned out prize.

The TRI Equestrian Open Individual League Final followed. Emily O’Neill riding Zothen’s Nobel, although unlucky not to be placed on the day, still had a big enough lead to just claim the league ahead of Wesley’s Emily Crawford riding LGS Safari who finished in second with Sophie Wilson representing Carnew on Lunasa Cruise in third. The remaining league final places went to Hannah O’Neill, Martha Power and Johnny Sheppard.

The championship competition on the day was won in fine style by Bonnie O’Neill, riding Golden Copper for Newbridge. The runner-up was Martha Power on Cash Advance for St Mary’s New Ross with Emily Crawford (LGS Safari) in third. The final places went to Anna Morrissey, Sophie Wilson and Annie O’Neill. Sophie Wilson was awarded the best turned out prize.

Joy for Curry

The final class of the day in this arena was the HSI Premier 110cm Final. This was the culmination of combinations gaining qualifications throughout the year and 26 combinations lined out to try to claim first place in what proved a very competitive class decided by a jump off round. Jumping a very fine clear round earned victory for East Glendalough’s Sarah Curry riding Ashwood Chuisle with Tamara Perry representing Scoil Ruáin Mullingar riding Hilton DC in second having been a few seconds slower. The consistent Cian Byrne from Carnew riding Boularee was third ahead of Ashbourne CS’s Aimee Walsh on Carnaby Mickey, Martha Power and Cash Advance from New Ross and Grove Street Lady ridden by Faye Murphy from Loreto Wexford. Murphy also won the turn out prize.

Meanwhile, the primary teams were demonstrating that they will be forces to be reckoned with in the future. The Primary Team Championship competition was won in fine style by Kilrane NS’s Gerry (Ruth Stafford), Buffy (Hannah Hoffenheinz), Leo (Lucy Stafford) and Stormy (Hazel Slattery), ahead of St Gerard’s Bray, Ahane Valliant (Maya Van Moll), Stonehaven Tweety (Dahlia Durkan), Cloonan Hannah (Charlotte Dodd) and Knocknacurragh (Maggie McDonnell), in second and Screen NS green team’s Molly (Mary Kate Kelly), Curraghmore Sparrow (Shannon Griffith), SHL Little Rockey (Ellen Cash) and Curraghmore Sparrow (Caitlin Griffith) in third.

The EII 75cm Championship incorporating the EII league competition followed and Hazel Slattery riding Breolie Mist for Kilraine NS won the competition on the day thus cementing her league win. Freya Barry riding Olly was second and Aoife Murphy from St Lady’s Island NS riding Phoebe was third. The other league placings went to Aoife Murphy, Ryan O’Neill, Daniel Wall and Freya Barry. The turnout prize on the day was awarded to Claudia O’Neill.

The novice 80cm championship class was won in fine style by Ard Scoil Rathangan’s Sarah Boyce Donohue riding Four Mile Boy while the 55cm class was claimed by Cillian Mooney from Piercestown NS on Buttons.

The EII committee would like to thank Orla Roche and her team for hosting the final as well as all the EII sponsors and supporters. The next Interschools action will be at Balmoral Show and the EII Interschools League will recommence in September for the next school year.

(See Picture Desk pages 112-113 for more Interschools photographs)