THE weather did not dampen the spirits of the 100 or so competitors who flocked to Ballintober Equestrian for the third leg of the Celtic Equine Horse Trials League, hosted by Waterford Riding Club.

The Advanced Intermediate was the top class on the day being quite strong and very hotly contested. There was also the added attraction for the winner of this class with the Mark Kennedy Trophy up for grabs. The cross-country time was the biggest factor with none of the competitors finishing inside the time. With only six time faults and an otherwise clean slate, Sharon O’Connor from Ashwood Club was the clear winner on her own home-bred Ashwood Diamond Pride. Aine Dagg from Coole Lane was runner-up on Jetstown Super Storm, with Ashwood’s Georgina Magnier coming third on Princess of Araglen allowing Ashwood club members to go home very happy.

The Intermediate section proved very popular again and was divided into two groups. In group A, Fergal Grannell from Ballycanew was the clear winner with a faultless day and Gillian King riding Cheeky Basil from Kilotteran was the runner-up having a faultless day.

In group B, Joanna Lewis from Clonmel riding Ballybough Bobati was the winner with a superb dressage of 25.25 and an unfortunate pole on the ground, while Chelsea Fogarty from Carne riding Kilmoye Jess was second. The Young Horse class, albeit small, showed a clear winner in Albert Whitehead from Carne riding Frankie Power.

The Advanced Primary class fell foul of the rain on the cross-course, however in spite of this, there were very few problems cross-country. Ruth Daunt from Ballycanew riding Destination Unknown finished on her dressage score of 24.48 (despite a coefficient of 1.1), with Sharon O’Brien from Thomastown and District riding Chapelhill Tommie coming a very close second.

The Primary Combined Training was won by Darren Rossiter from Carne riding North Dakota Dawn and close behind was John Kearney riding Jimmy for the Rower. The Rower is a new club in the region and it’s great to see them out and about competing and doing well.

The Novice 80, although not a league class, as it is open to all grades from Intermediate and above, is always a very popular class. The winner was Ann Lambert from Carne riding an obvious potential for the future in Killinick Woody who finished on his dressage score of 24.75. Emma Stephenson from Warrington riding her Connemara Dromad Moran Dancer was the runner-up.

Eimear McGovern from the host club won the Advanced Primary combined training on Borneo Sensation. McGovern then went off to mark a fence in the pouring rain but the win sweetened the discomfort.