THE second running of the RC70/RC80 championship at the Association of Irish Riding Clubs’ annual Festival at the Mullingar Equestrian Centre saw competitors jump in Sand Arena 1 with a peak starting time of 2pm and with sponsorship from Foran Equine.

Following the withdrawal of Mullaghmore, six of the organisation’s eight regions were represented in this two-round competition where there was a clear-cut victory on four faults for Highland Lodge with the local Mullingar club placing second on 12 faults.

The successful Co Cork quartet comprised Lesley Maye with her Connemara mare Ballyneale Daisy, a 15-year-old Bunowen Darragh grey, club treasurer Melanie Cole riding the similarly-aged Irish Sport Horse mare Ringwood Sahara, a chesnut daughter of Ringwood Harley Carol, Orla O’Kelly with her eight-year-old black mare Tonafora Lass and Zoe Wilson with the Connemara gelding Bunowen Scotty, a 16-year-old grey by Lockinge Frederick.

Chef d’equipe and coach for the team is Amanda Horgan who works at the club’s base of Hitchmough’s Equestrian Centre in Monkstown, Co Cork.