COOLE Lane Riding Club held their annual Summer Hunter and Performance Show Day last Sunday in Doyle’s Equestrian, Rathvilly, Co Carlow.

The introduction to showing/primary class kicked off proceedings under the expert eye of judge Mary-Ann Casey who gave the first red ribbon of the day to Test of Courage (Sandra Doody) of Coole-Lane, second place went outside the region to Visa Versa (Tracey McDermot), Calliagstown, in third was MacCloud (Jessica Sinnott) of Treegrove, fourth was Ruby (Pat Deegan) from Ballycanew, and fifth went to Cheryl Keogh’s new coloured horse Lord Budlee, also of Coole Lane.

The second class was the Small Hunters where first was Coolattin Rasheersky (Elaine Godkin) of Ballycanew, second was Sally (Patricia Fisher) from Barrow Valley, third was Bay Leaf (Margaret Bolger), also from Barrow Valley and fourth was taken by Kildrenagh Celeste (Andrea Cooper) of neighbouring Russelltown.

In the Cob/Maxi Cob class, Kilkenny’s Elaine Lynch and her coloured horse I Go Hugo of Treegrove took first, second went to Bay Leaf (Margaret Bolger) of The Rower RC, while Lord Budley and Hayley O’Shea improved on their previous placing taking third for Coole Lane.

The Medium and Heavyweight hunters was the largest class of the day but Ratheadon Gold (Tara Sweeney) of Thomastown stood out for judge Casey taking first place. Second went to Juan De Reve (Ciara Corcoran) of Castledermot, third was Rosscross Porsche (Keith Smyth) from Barrow Valley, fourth went to Wexford’s Harry (Ciara O’Neill) Ballycanew. Not to be outdone by her dad, fifth went to Dalroldo (Suzanne Smyth) of Barrow Valley while sixth was Tiny (Vanessa Dooley) from Treegrove RC.

In the Lightweight Hunter class, the first placing went to Elaine Foley’s grey Traviata of Russellstown RC, second was Kildoon Trix (Valerie Crean) of Barrow Valley, third was Juan Deigo (Ciara Kelly) from Castledermot while fourth was Foxy Furisto (Isabelle Gould) of Barrow Valley RC.

The Native class was dominated by 50 shades of grey with first place going to Holy Wells Bella (Aoife Horan) of Castledermot RC, second was Blake Hill Columbo (Ann Murray) from Barrow Valley, third was the highland pony, Dura Mist of Lamssette (Sally Duffy), Ballycanew, and fourth went to Fred (Joan Douglas) also of Ballycanew RC.

The Coloured Horse class proved popular again this year and it was taken by Ollie (Charlotte Clear) from Mill Road, second went to I Go Hugo (Elaine Lynch), Treegrove, third went to Briar Field Hercules (Helen Sweeney) from Long Acre, fourth to Lord Budley (Hayley O’Shea) Coole-Lane. In fifth was Samona (Valerie Crean) of Barrow Valley and sixth place went to Kildangan Bull Winkle (Rachel Lawlor) of Kilcarrig RC.

The first and second place of each class returned to the ring for the Plusvital Championship and after winning the medium and heavy weight hunter, Ratheadon Gold (Tara Sweeney) of Thomastown RC went on to take the champion honours with reserve champion going to I go Hugo (Elaine Lynch) for Treegrove.

WORKING HUNTERS

It was then on to the Working Hunters where Test of Courage (Sandra Doody) for Coole Lane, enjoying their day out, bagged another first for the host club in the primary class. Second was Ester Curran (Rebel Zoom) with third going to Dexter’s Pride (Deirdre Deegan) of Ballycanew RC.

In the Advanced Primary, MacCloud (Jessica Sinnott) of Treegrove RC landed their second rosette of their day winning the class, in second was Foxy Furisto (Isabelle Gould) Barrow Valley, third went to fellow club member Sally (Patricia Fisher), fourth was Coollattin Rosheen Sky (Elaine Godkin) of Ballycanew and fifth was Moylough Dub (Edel Horan) of Castledermot RC.

A hoof-perfect round in the Intermediate class from Holy Wells Bella (Aoife Horan) for Castledermott, was enough to see them take first. In second was Samona (Valerie Crean) of Barrow Valley, third went to Bay Leaf (JJ Bolger) from The Rower, fourth went outside the region to Juan De Reve (Ciara Corcoran) of Castledermot, while fifth was Valerie Crean’s second horse Kildoon Trix.

The win in the Advanced Intermediate went to Briar Field India (Helen Sweeney) of Long Acre who pipped Violette Vanbeek (Yvonne Darcy) of Coole Lane into second. Finally the open class was won by Madges Lane Jinxy (Amy McDonald) of Castledermot.

The Plusvital champion performance hunter went to Jessica Sinnott and MacCloud for Treegrove after winning the Advanced Primary working hunter with reserve champion honours going to Castledermot’s Aoife Horan and Holy Wells Bella.