THE TRI Equestrian Interschools final was held on a day of sunshine and showers in CoilÓg Equestrian Centre last Sunday.

The open competitions commenced proceedings in the Hornbeam Arena, starting with the TRI Equestrian open teams’ class. Following a great display of team jumping, three teams made it through to the jump-off round. The championship went to Loreto Wexford, with the team consisting of Hop ridden by Hannah Rose Roach, My Causey Girl ridden by Freya Barry, Electric Bailey and Aoife Griffith and Wex Gal ridden by Amy Griffith, ahead of St Mary’s New Ross – Coppenagh Comet and Hannah Hennessy Murphy, Crows Grove Nelly and Mia Donovan, Swanview Cream of Dexter ridden by Kate Kavanagh and Small Bog Willow with Jane Bolger - in second and Kilkenny College in third.

Kilpatrick Sparkle and Alannah Bailey, Youghal Paddy ridden by Donnacha Burns, Carraun Ferdy and Georgia Queally and Donode Don’t Forget and Isabel Smithwick represented Kilkenny. Wesley College, King’s Hospital and a second team from St Mary’s took fourth, fifth and sixth. King’s Hospital were awarded the turnout prize.

The season’s TRI Equestrian open teams league was decided with the awarding of points and a half for those placed at the final and the schools who came first to fifth, Loreto Wexford, St Mary’s New Ross, Kilkenny College, Wesley and King’s Hospital, claimed those places in the league and all these teams also qualify for the Bluegrass Schools Championships at the upcoming Balmoral Show.

Open Individual winner Brooke Sutton McGarry on Achill represented Ramsgrange School at the TRI Equestrian Interschools final at Coilog

The TRI Equestrian open individual classes were very well supported, with placings decided by jump-offs for all those on zero faults after the qualifying rounds. The 1m class was won by the consistent partnership of Brooke Sutton McGarry and Achill, riding for Ramsgrange School. Donnacha Burns riding Coppenagh Viking from Kilkenny College was second, with Hannah Rose Roche and Happy Girl from Loreto in third. King’s Hospital’s Abigail Kenny and Hogan the Brave was fourth and won the turn out prize, with Mia O’Donnell and Kinlough Lad from St Declan’s Kilmacthomas in fifth and Ailbhe Delahunty riding Rushaun Bobby for Mount Anville was sixth. Sutton McGarry retained her lead in the league to claim the TRI Equestrian open individual league title, whilst Mia O’Donnell’s fifth place on the day was good enough to place second in the league. Hannah Rose Roche was third, ahead of Donnacha Burns, Ailbhe Delahunty and Ellie O’Connor from Creagh College.

The TRI Premier 110 final produced some excellent jumping, with 14 qualifying for the jump-off round. Kate Kavanagh riding Swan View Cream of Dexter for St Mary’s New Ross flew around the jump-off track to claim the title, ahead of Technical Tom ridden by Dara Reynolds from Presentation College Headford in second and Aimee Byrne and Major Profile for St Mary’s Naas in third. Eva McCraith from Wesley, Tara Moquet and Juliana Duffy both from Presentation Thurles came fourth, fifth and sixth. Hannah Rose Roche and Hop for Loreto Wexford won best turned out.

Caitlin Griffith on WNDA Toby won the Equieire 90cm class at the TRI Equestrian Interschools final at Coilog

The final class in the Hornbeam was the Equieire novice 90cm class, which attracted the biggest entry of the day, with 45 combinations competing for the jump-off round. Excellent jumping saw 18 competitors getting through and the first prize went to Caitlin Griffith riding WNDA Toby for Loreto Wexford, ahead of Sarah Ryan riding Ballinaguilkey Rocco and Katie Gannon and Rinka from Colaiste Lorcan Castledermot. Elizabeth’s Girl and Katie Tully from Carrigallen VS Clooncarrick was fourth and also won the turn out prize. Shannon O’Rourke and Maghera Melody, also from Carrigallen was fifth, with Ruby Haugh and Harvey’s Diamond from St John Bosco, Kildysart in sixth.

Championship

Meanwhile, in the Lime Arena, the EII Hopoti novice team championship attracted lots of teams from around the country. The championship on the day was won by Gorey Community School, ahead of Colaiste Abhainn, Adamstown, Co Wexford in second. The St Paul’s Oughterard team of Carol and Ella Heraty, Knockiree Leona with Cliona Foley and Myrahs Bay and Eabha Joyce had a worthwhile journey to Coilog to finish third. Loreto Wexford, Presentation Thurles and King’s Hospital were fourth, fifth and sixth. Loreto also won the turnout prize. Loreto’s fourth place on the day was sufficient for the school to win the Novice Teams’ league, ahead of Gorey CS in second. St Gerard’s Bray took third place in the league, with St Paul’s Monasterevin, St Declan’s Kilmacthomas and Colaiste Abhainn, Wexford placed fourth, fifth and sixth.

Novice teams league winners, Loreto Wexford: Firefly Kadie (Izzy Bates), Jumpingdale Peanut (Ruby Cousins), Curraghmore Sparrow (Shannon Griffith) and WNDA Toby (Caitin Griffith), pictured at the TRI Equestrian Interschools final at Coilog

Penny O’Brien and Cucarachee Circe from King’s Hospital won the Hopoti novice individual championship and fellow pupil, Phillipa Hillman riding Dale was runner-up. Lucy Daly and Kilkisheen Girl representing Mayglass primary school was third. Emily Glass, Kate Browne and Faye Morrissey took fourth, fifth and sixth. Browne also won the turnout prize.

The primary riders then took on the primary team and individual events. Mayglass Primary School took the honours in the two-phase teams’ championship. Bryngwennol Reflection and Lottie Codd, Killawalla Zara ridden by Penny Codd, Kilkisheen Girl and Lucy Daly and Westside Mirah Bob ridden by Cora Goff, represented Mayglass. A mixed team from Wexford was second, it included Clondaw Misty and Rhys O’Brien, Catch Me Now with Frankie Rath, James with Patrick Sarsfield and Eva and Billy Scallon. Taking third place was the sibling team from Castlepark NS Dalkey, James, Patrick and Peter Connolly riding Dromahair Bird, Killeany Limited Edition and Highmead Song and Dance. This team also received the turnout prize.

The 55cm class was run with optimum time deciding the placings. Patrick Connolly, again riding Dromahair Bird, came closest to take first place, ahead of Kate Keegan from Powerscourt NS riding Kimmy Coo in second and Bryngwennol Reflection ridden by Lottie Codd from Mayglass in third. Patrick Connolly, Amy Kelly and Mila Van Cauwenberg took fourth, fifth and sixth. Eabha Anderson and Candy Flow BVS from Fr Cullen Memorial School, Tinryland won best turned out.

League decider

The final class of the day was the 75cm championship and league decider. Rhys O’Brien riding Clondaw Misty for St Brigid’s Blackwater won the class thus claiming league honours also. Cora Goff and Westside Myrah for Mayglass were second on the day, ahead of Honor Mannion and College Rose and Lucy Daly and Kilkisheen Girl, both from Mayglass. Frankie Rath and Catch Me Now from Screen NS was fifth and Rashers ridden by Mila Van Cauwenberg from St Etchens was sixth. Frankie Rath was deemed best turned out. Lucy Daly took second in the league, followed by Honor Mannion, Frankie Rath, Peter Connolly and Cora Goff.

Last but not least, the Treo Eile winners on the day were Head Honcho ridden by Joe Kehoe for Gorey CS and Wex Gal ridden by Amy Griffrith for Loreto Wexford.

While the Interschools season has come to a close, there is still the Bluegrass Championships in Balmoral took look forward to in May.