FOR the eighth time in 10 years, but with a slight change of name, the Laura Carrick-captained Give It Socks squad won Sunday’s SOCK team challenge at the Cheval Riding Club’s Jordanstown grounds near Oldtown.

The number of teams which lined out was down on previous years but the combined efforts of the 15 teams which did compete, and that of the organisers and sponsors, resulted in €4,181 being donated to SOCK (Supporting Ovarian Cancer Knowledge). This brings the total raised to over €44,000.

Sand arena

Following the usual format, the 60cms/70cms classes were held in the sand arena, where they were judged by Danielle Halpin, with Christine Walsh judging the 80cms and 90cms classes in the grass ring. After the scheduled two rounds, three teams were on zero, two were on four faults while another two had picked up eight faults apiece. The captains of all seven took part in a jump-off.

Carrick was first to go on My Foxy Lass and was clear in 29.67 which put the pressure on the remainder. Of those six, Aoife Hanratty set a time of 32.58 to put Moran’s Magnificent Four into second place with another clear from Jane Flanagan in 33.13 securing third for Cheval Black.

The other members of the winning team, who were presented with the Jane Keating memorial trophy, were Maria Carrick (My Four Leaf Clover), Martin O’Brien (Nuttys Choice) and Denise Byrne (Cara Aurora).

As she donated the trophy, Maria Carrick presented the Flash Dance flashiest pony award to Jack Hannigan, a member of Team H and the rider of Blaze. The same team’s William Hannigan was judged the most stylish rider by Eileen Bradish. The late Jane Keating’s mother, Imelda, and brother, Kevin, were on hand to present the trophy to the winning team.

The rugs for the winners were sponsored by Horse Mad Store, while other main sponsors were Orchard Equestrian (jackets for second), Bluegrass, TRI, Equine Warehouse and White’s Agri.

The dog show and raffle, plus the barbeque which was sponsored by Troy Butchers, were as popular as ever. Cheval Riding Club donated the use of their grounds for the fund raiser, a gesture most appreciated by the organising committee.