AFTER a frosty start to the AIRC South East Tredstep Ireland League, the league moved south to Wexford Equestrian last weekend with Three Rocks Riding Club hosting the day’s event.
With Tredstep as sponsors this year, the popularity of the league has increased. Speaking ahead of the first leg of the league, regional chairperson Sharon O’Connor spoke of how thrilled the region is to have the Dublin-based company on board, saying, “Tredstep are a leading manufacturer in equestrian wear and we’re delighted to have such a wonderful Irish company support grassroots equestrian in the south east.”
The Primary class kicked off proceedings under the watchful eye of judge Sarah Jane Doyle. Martin Carroll and Ardlea Indian Lady for Coole-Lane impressed Doyle with their accurate transitions, winning the class on a score of 69.76%, the first red rosette for the Carlow club this season. Second place went to Caroline Mason and Benjamin for Horetown while close on the leader’s hooves, Monica Nurney and Pepper took the yellow for host club Three Rocks.
The action moved to the ever popular Advanced Primary class with some new horse and rider combinations taking to Doyle’s dressage arena. The day belonged to Debbie Murphy and Harry Boy for Carne RC who topped the class on 73.18% with their consistent rhythm and accuracy. Last year’s winner Anne Clune and Ragazella Bella couldn’t catch their Carne team mate on this occasion but still picked up the blue ribbon for the Wexford club.
Christina Savage Kehoe made a great First Impression in this league for Horetown bagging third place, while Caroline Kelly and Myshall Lester for Barrow Valley brought the green back up the N11 to Carlow. It was the start of a beautiful friendship for Margaret Byrne and her new horse Lyleview on Time who were fifth. Sixth were fellow Barrow Valley rider Valerie Crean and Kildoon Trix who made sure they weren’t forgotten in the final line-up.
YOUNG HORSE HONOURS
Two riders battled it out in the very important Young Horse class. Winter has definitely come and gone for Jimme Quirke and Daenerys Targaryen for the home club, winning the class with some lovely paces on 65.4%. Neighbouring club member Christine Keymer and Whiskey for Carne RC couldn’t catch them on this occasion, but ended the day on a very respectable 62.27%.
Fluent transitions and an accurate test gave Gemma Cousins and Bridgetown Dancer a whopping 5% lead over her fellow competitors in the Intermediate class while newly upgraded Ruth Dalton and Icarus Argentus for Coole-Lane made the long trip to Wexford worthwhile by bagging their first blue in their new class. Chelsea Fogarty and Kilmoyne Jess brought home Carne’s fifth ribbon of the day, this time a bright yellow. A mere 0.2% separated each of the remainder placings, Abigail Kent and Majority Reign picked up their first rosette of the season with a fourth while Carne rider Katie O’Connor and Drinaghs Golden Lad scored enough to see them in fifth. Rounding off the inter class was Keith Smyth and Rosscrea Porch for Barrow Valley.
Leann O’Connor and Diamond Minty Fresh, in their first test at this level, scored highly to win the Advanced Intermediate class with a consistent, well presented, test for Carne. Tracey Rooney and Tara Bill, also for Carne, couldn’t catch O’Connor, but managed to bag a very close second. Newtown Wilson pulled out the fancy footwork for Joan Sinnott of Ballycanew earning them third place, while Anne Lynch and User Friendly were a mere 0.1% behind on fourth.
Melanie Hammel and Taylers Slaney Cruise rounded off the day for Carne with a fifth place while Zoe Kehoe and Lux like a Lady put in some impressive moves for their first day out at Advanced Intermediate to earn them sixth place.
New to Three Rocks RC is Kadie Burns (Bolgerstown Flagmount) who put in an impressive performance in the Open class to finish on 68.46%. Next week the league moves to Barnadown where Ballycanew RC play host.