WEXFORD Equestrian hosted the penultimate TRI Equestrian Interschools before the Christmas break last Sunday.

The Open competitions ran in the late afternoon and in the TRI Equestrian open teams’ competition, the well-represented Loreto Wexford claimed first and third with the consistent St Mary’s New Ross splitting these and claiming second place.

Sally Grey Gallough and Aoife Griffith, Churchland’s Liberty with Freya Barry, Wex Gal ridden by Amy Griffith, and Essener Double Dutch ridden by Anna Radford were on the winning team. Coppenagh Commet ridden by Hannah Hennessy, Corws Grove Nelly and Mai Donovan, Swan View Cream of Dexter ridden by Kate Kavanagh and Ahabrock Storm and Aoife Cummins represented St Mary’s.

Andreas Dream and Judy Sinnott, Greenfield Lorenzo partnered by Leah McMurphy, Unnamed and Isobell Walsh and Serene Ace with Kate Jordan were on the Loreto team which placed third. Remaining league points went to Ramsgrange community school and Kilkenny College.

The TRI Equestrian open individual league class was won by Noah Sinnott Murphy from Bridgetown College riding Lurgan Diamond Lass. The runner-up slot went to Isobel Smithwick representing Kilkenny College riding Donode Don’t Forget, and Ruby Reville on Chloe’s Fantasy from Presentation Wexford was third.

Lily Walsh, Ellie O’Connor and Sam Quirke took fourth, fifth and sixth. The final open class was the Premier 1.10m class also sponsored by TRI Equestrian. Brooke Sutton McGarry from Loreto riding Curraghmore Sparrow gained a qualifying spot when she posted a great round to take the win, ahead of Creagh College’s Ellie O’Connor and Grove Street Lady, and Noah Sinnott Murphy again partnering Lurgan Diamond Lass, in second and third. Remaining qualifying spots went to Lily Walsh riding Redinagh Kate and Breehill Superstar.

The Equieire novice 90cm qualifier was won by Shannon Griffith and Curraghmore Sparrow for Loreto Wexford. Ali Cullen, also representing Loreto was second on Rosie and Lucy Stafford and Sahara Breeze from Presentation was third. Amy Griffith on Summer Diamond also qualifies as does Ruth Stafford and Mia Delaney.

Primary classes

The day had commenced at 8.30am with the primary riders who participated in a well-attended teams’ competition, locally sponsored by Jodz, followed by two individual classes before the action moved to the secondary school riders at lunch time.

The team from Kiltealy NS - The Little Bamboo and Caoimhe Coleman, Ronnie Drew and Cathal Coleman, Little Pumpkin ridden by Micheala Quirke, and Banrion Rooskey and Lucy Brennan - claimed the win ahead of the Rathangan Sky NS team of Rosie and Robyn Murphy, Lilly and Thea Barry, Gizmo with Gracie Kelly, and Dragon Morency and Nicola Dyrek in second.

Kilmore NS took third. They were represented by Seamus and Denise Keane, Bailey ridden by Lilly Wall, Coco ridden by Maisey Mooney and Dutchess and Rosie Scallan.

Rathangan National School, where show jumping is one of their favourite sports, fielded two more teams who placed fourth and fifth, and Mayglass National School completed the placings when claiming sixth. Cathal Ceman from Kiltealy, this time riding Tina, won the 75cm class. Kilkisheen Girl and Lucy Day from Mayglass was second and Frankie Rath riding Catch Me Now was third. The 55cm class went to Caoimhe Coleman riding Tops for Kiltealy.

Once the course was adjusted, it was time for the secondary schools’ novice teams to shine. Eleven teams lined up to compete in the Hopoti-sponsored class for the prizes on offer and it was the Loreto Wexford yellow team who were victorious in this. Loreto was represented by Firefly Kadie ridden by Izzy Bates, Jumpingdale Peanut and Ruby Cousins, Curraghmore Sparrow ridden by Shannon Griffiths, Caitlin Griffith on WNDA Toby.

The Gorey Community School team of Jacobs Ladder with Abbie Hill, Anvil Lady and Michelle Murphy, Lissakillen Mirah ridden by Robyn Fitzgerald, and Head Honcho ridden by Joe Kehoe were second ahead of Bridgetown College White, represented by Moscrofta Minster ridden by Holly Cadogan, Ballyteige Bay and Lucy O’Brien, Ballyell Ellie partnered by Sophie Whitehead, and Shamwari Pride and Aoife Murphy in third.

The remaining places went to Loreto Brown Wexford CBS and Gorey CS. Because Wexford and Gorey both featured twice in the line up points were awarded to Scoil Mhuire Greenhill and Presentation Wexford.

The 80cm novice individual class, open to both primary and novice secondary pupils, was won by Abbey Murphy riding Wonderful White from Ramsgrange National School. Lily Mai Bardon and Poynstown Captain Jack from Scoil Muire Greenhills and Kenzie Kavanagh and Lucy from Taghmon NS were second and third.

The final TRI Equestrian Interschools before Christmas is taking place this weekend in Boswell Equestrian Centre.