GREY clouds and heavy rain threatened the fifth leg of the Celtic Equine Horse Trials league last weekend, which left many members from the south east region of the AIRC questioning whether they had overdone it on the rain dance during the dry spell over the course of the league.

Thankfully though, the rain eased just as the first rider entered the dressage arena in Ballintober Equestrian near New Ross. The large drops of rain actually complimented the hard work put in by the Grace family over the last few weeks in preparation for the event.

In the Advanced Intermediate section, D-Monty and Katie Stafford from Carne Riding Club didn’t let the bad weather rain on their parade by finishing on their dressage score of 32.3. Ballustree Flagmount Clover and Ray Murphy from neighboring Wexford club Ballycanew took second place while third went outside the region to Ballycullens George and Naomi Fisher of Foxborough RC.

CARNE DOUBLE

Next up was the Intermediate section which was again won by a Carne rider, this time Barbara Cullen riding Ashfield Pippa finishing on their dressage score of 25.3. It was Carlow’s Coole Lane riders however who stopped the run of ribbons going to Wexford with Cathal’s Apache and Brian Carroll taking second and one of Coole’s newest members, Gloria Nolan riding her dun gelding Barana Andy into third.

The Novice 90 section went to two Wicklow clubs. The class was won by Decoy and Gerry Reid from Green Valley RC while Burberry and Kaye Bowe from Tinahely RC took the blue ribbon.

Carne got back on track in the Young Horse section however, with the club taking the top four placings in the class. Robin’s Fairytale and Sue Corish finished off the best of the members on a score of 34.4. Rahale Robin and Ann Lambert were second, Tykillen Top That and Ciara Morris topped off their day with third, while Cruise on Bella and Albert Whitehead cruised into fourth.

Not to be outdone by her fellow members, Mary Jo Browne and Skid Solo clinched it for Carne in the Novice 80 on a score of 37.9. Mandy Hayden of Tinahely RC and her part connie Ballythomas Rolo brought a second ribbon back to the Wicklow club while Kate O’ Neill and Woodfield Bing secured third for Kilotteran RC.

WALSH DOES IT

Tipperary rider Carley Walsh ensured that the north west of the region wasn’t forgotten by winning the Advanced Primary section on Pasodobel for Clonmel RC. Ragazza Bella and Anne Clune rounded off the prizes for Carne RC taking second, while Carlow-based rider Valerie Creane and the ever faithful Kildoon Trix brought the yellow ribbon back to her base in Barrow Valley RC. Horetown’s Yvonne Lambert and Cheyenne were the sole competitors in the Advanced Primary Combined training.

The primary combined training section proved to be the usual battle between Coole Lane member Martin Carroll and his mare Ardlea Indian Lady and Ballycanew member Deirdre Deegan riding Dexter’s Pride. There’s a friendly rivalry between these two riders but on this occasion, Deegan couldn’t catch the high bar set down by Carroll in his dressage test and had to settle for second. However, as the National AIRC Horse Trials championships will feature a combined training class for primary riders in Lisgarvan this weekend, this pair will doubtless battle it out again for the honours.