THERE were two TRI Equestrian Interschools last weekend. St Paul’s Oughterard hosted the event in Ower Equestrian and David Maher and his team hosted an inaugural interschools event in Roscrea Equestrian.

The event in Roscrea attracted competitors from a large number of schools and, once again, St Mary’s New Ross took the prize in the open teams ahead of rivals, Newbridge College. Coppenagh Comet ridden by Hannah Hennessy Murphy, Crows Grove Nelly and Mia Donovan, Swan View Cream of Dexter ridden by Kate Kavanagh and Queenies Cornet and Mia Kent represented New Ross, while Little Miss Sunshine ridden by Deryn Ryan, Lady Ace ridden by Evie Holohan and Mountain Girl with Bobby Weld made up the three-man Newbridge team. Newbridge also featured in the Hopoti novice team event, where they saw off rivals Ard Scoil na Trionoide in second and Our Lady’s Bower in third.

This time, the Newbridge novice team was Saltre Imperial Commander and Jamie Monahan, Alan Key ridden by Jack Hargaden and Bruckless Elmar with Nia Webbon, while Mario and Doireann Curtis, Kilgowan Lady ridden by Daniel Wall, Trendy Carurn Bella ridden by Yulia Di Nardi Maher, and Hugo and Oliwia Suska, made up the Ardscoil na Trionoide team in second. Irish Town Toby ridden by Elsa Hun, Clonakilla Blondie and Lucy McManus, Scruffalann ridden by Daisy Jane Rogers and Daisy and Leah Durkan represented Our Lady’s. St Paul’s Monasterevin were fourth.

Open classes

Taylor Grace Nolan Gee representing Kilkenny College and, riding Ramiro Van Het Overlet Goed, won the TRI Equestrian open league class, ahead of fellow pupil Donnacha Burns and Coppenagh Viking in second and Jack Hargaden from Newbridge on Coppenagh Blitz in third. James Ryan, Zara Fryday and Mia O’Donnell also gained points in the league.

Lucia Keane from Our Lady’s Templemore was the winner of the Premier 110 class, riding Nud van Orchid’s, Benji and Tom O’Donnell from St Declan’s was second and Lucia Keane, this time riding RDJW Merclov, was third. Donnacha Burns, Ellie O’Connor, Taylor Grace Nolan Gee and James Ryan also qualify for the 110 final.

CES Clover and Leah Young from Our Lady’s Bower, Melvieur Another Clover ridden by Laura Coonan for Ursuline Thurles and Saltre Imperial Commander and Jamie Monahan from Newbridge College qualified for the Equieire novice 90cm final, while West Coast Larry and Leah Woods from Crecora NS, won the Hopoti 80cm class. Kilgowan Lady ridden by Dawn Wall from Kilkea NS won the 70cm primary individual league class and the fun 55cm class.

Ower event

In Galway, a large group of western-based schools enjoyed the show hosted by St Paul’s Oughterard.

Ballyhaunis Community School’s Reece Keane on Drynills Grey Goose, Alex Keane on Dougie and Alice Curran riding Morning Pickle were the outright winners of the TRI Equestrian open team event. Ballyhaunis riders also claimed the Hopoti novice teams’ event, this time represented by Lauren Henry riding My Doll, Erin Higgins and Colane Shilin and Reese Keane riding KMR Ice Surprise. St John Bosco and Presentation Headford were second and third.

Technical Tom ridden by Dara Reynolds for Presentation College Headford won the TRI Equestrian 110 qualifier, ahead of Reese Keane on Drymills Grey Goose from Ballyhaunis in second and Eoghan Delaney representing Mount St Michael, Claremorris in third. All qualify for the final.

Keris Mae O'Toole in action at St Pauls Oughterard's interschools show jumping at Ower Equestrian \ Justin Black Horse Sport Images

Strawberry Swirl II ridden by Niamh Delaney from Mount St Michael, Claremorris, won the TRI Equestrian open league class, ahead of Technical Tom and Dara Reynolds from Presentation College, Headford in second and Forest Buddy ridden by Keris-Mae O’Toole from Clifden Community School in third. Hannah Lawless and Little Breeze, Claudia O’Reilly and Cloonaveigh Emily, Amelia Dobrolska with Dromalga Darcy and Harvey’s Diamond and Ruby Haugh all qualified for the Equieire novice 90cm final.

Ardrahan NS claimed the novice 80cm class and the primary 70cm. College Rose ridden by Honor Mannion and Puzzle De Belle and Maeveor Corbett were the Ardrahan representatives.

Action this weekend moves east to Kildare at JAG Equestrian.