THE weather held up as Ballycanew Riding Club hosted their recent Mini One Day Event at Barnadown, Co Wexford. All surfaces were in good condition and it was all systems go as competitors began to arrive.

The open class saw four competitors battle it out with Ann Lambert from Carne RC coming out on top with a score of 39.8 on Killinick Commet. Johnston Brodie from the host club Ballycanew RC was just 2.7% off the leader on Ufilogical Milord finishing on a score of 42.5.

Jennifer Kehoe of Carne RC took first and second place in the advanced intermediate on Westwinds Mr Cool and Hiltown Hero respectively. Anne Lynch from Waterford RC was a close third with User Friendly while Niamh O’Donnanbhain from Tinahely RC fought a hard battle to take fourth place.

The shortened cross-country course, made up of a mixture of solid and knockable fences, proved to be the deciding factor in the Intermediate class. The winner, Fidelma Curran from Waterford RC on Ballyadam Philip, was the only person to finish on their dressage score, 31.5.

Lean O’Connor on Diamond Minty Fresh from Carne RC picked up some unfortunate time penalties to finish in second place on 36, while Vicky Cloney – also from Carne RC – riding Gentle Bouncer, finished on a score of 39.1, taking third position.

Roisin McGrath on Graigueswood Bobby, from Warrington RC, was the sole competitor in the intermediate combined training, and finished on a score of 34.

WIN FOR CREAN

The young horse class, reserved for four and five-year-old horses, saw Ann Lambert take home another win with Rahale Robin, on a score of 22.6. Ciara Morris with Tykillen Top That, from Carne RC, came a close second on 29.7. Claire Atkinson from host club Ballycanew RC, on Step Up To The Mic, wrapped up the class, taking third place.

The second biggest class of the day was the advanced primary where Valerie Crean from Barrow Valley RC, on Kildoon Trix, saw off all the competition to finish on a score of 27.6. Taylor Slaney Cruise, ridden by Melanie Hammel from Carne RC, was a very close second with a score of 28.1. Ruth Dalton from Coole Lane RC, riding Icarus Argenteus, scored 32.1 to take third place.

The novice class, jumping the same track as the advanced primary, saw riders from all grades compete. Tanya Lock from Clonough RC on Rathcline Moonlight Girl had a clean score sheet, finishing on her dressage score of 32.9 to win the class. Lorne Deegan from Ballycanew RC, lead after the dressage, fell victim to the very influential cross-country course to finish in second on a score of 36.8 on Dexters Pride. Pat White on Velvet Mountain, also from Clonough RC, galloped into a third-place finish.

CHALLENGING

The last class of the day was the primary class. The heat was on after the dressage as 0.3% separated Martin Carroll on Ardlea Indian Lady from Coole Lane and Deirdre Deegan riding Derryvale Princess of Ballycanew RC. The show jumping proved to be challenging and a bad day at the office for Deirdre paved the way for Rachel Carroll on Bracken, from Russelstown RC, to take the win with a score of 31.5. Catriona O’Brien on Templemicheal Siogai, from Carne, came second with a score of 32.5. Martin took third place back to the Carlow-based club.

Special thanks go out to Maurice and Felicity Cousins for the use of their grounds and to Murphy’s Liquidation Furniture for sponsoring the prizes on the day.