WESLEY College hosted a day of interschools show jumping at Coilog last weekend, and events commenced with the TRI Equestrian open team competition. Two teams qualified to jump off for victory, and it was the team from St Mary’s New Ross that posted the fastest jump-off time to win. Host school Wesley College claimed the runner-up slot, while the local Newbridge College was third. Mia Kent on Queenie’s Cornet, Laura Neville riding Coolafinka Quinn, Eva Kent on Boughlone Nelson and Aoife Cummins with Ahabrook Storm represented St Mary’s, while Eva McCraith and Cluanin Rob, Lulu Rose Mulhall riding Luciano and Amelia Henley on Kilpatrick Forget Me Not made up the three-person Wesley team and Evie Holohan on Annette’s Girl, Olivia Condon riding Willie Wag Tail, Deryn Lonergan and Little Miss Sunshine and Emma Harris with Carrigshaun Doctor were on the Newbridge team.

The TRI Equestrian open individual class followed and produced some very exciting jumping. Mia O’Donnell riding Kinlough Lad from St Declan’s Community College set a very fast time to claim the 10 points, with Ailbhe Delahunty and Rushaun Bobby from Mount Anville in second place and Mai Donovan and Crow’s Grove Nelly from St Mary’s New Ross in third. Remaining league points went to Andrew Fearon, Amelia Henley and Donnacha Burns.

The final open competition was the TRI Premier 110 class. The consistent pairing of Brooke Sutton McGarry and Achill from Ramsgrange proved unbeatable, although Kate Kavanagh and Swanview Cream of Dexter from St Mary’s New Ross and Ailbhe Delahunty again partnered by Rushaun Bobby from Mount Anville made very creditable attempts to catch the winner. Also gaining qualifying spots for the final were Eva McGrath, Donnacha Burns and Amy Byrne.

The mixed team of St Michael’s and Loreto College, St Stephen’s Green (Tadhg O’Leary riding ESI Annaghmore, Patrick Fenton on Poppy, Sean Fenton riding Silver and Ruby O’Brien with Lady) took the honours in the Hopoti novice team event, with the host school’s Lulu Rose Mulhall on KitKat, Emily Glass with Paddy Tom, Lola Fulton riding Pandora Snowdrop and Amelia Henley riding Kilpatrick Lorenzo taking second place. St Gerard’s Kate Buckley and Ballyea Star, Saoirse Di Biasi with Five Alley Bob, Isabella Di Biasi and Cluanin and Lilly Maloney partnered by Harvey were third, with St Paul’s Monasterevin and St Declan’s Kilmacthomas in fourth and fifth.

There was great interest in the Equieire novice 90cm class. Anna Sarsfield from Presentation Wexford riding Glenhead Summer, Sarah Ryan riding Ballinaguilkey Rocco for Presentation Carlow, Tadhg O’Leary from St Michael’s on ESI Annaghmore, Kate Buckley and Ballyea Star for St Gerard’s Bray and Killag’s Royal Ace ridden by Lily Sullivan from Scoil Dara Kilcock all gained qualifying spots, although some were already qualified.

The Hopoti novice individuals, open to both secondary and primary, was won by Rhys O’Brien riding Clondaw Misty from Blackwater National School. Ciara Sarsfield with Telynau Marcello from Kilmore was second and Honor Mannion riding College Rose from Ballyglass Galway was third. Yulia Di Nardi Maher, Edward Ryan and Emily Glass filled the top six.

Rhys O’Brien also won the 75cm EII primary league class, again riding Clondaw Misty. Honor Mannion on College Rose for Ballyglass Galway was second and Peter Connolly from Castlepark on Highmead Song and Dance and DHS Black Domino was third and fourth. Connolly was also first and third in the 55cm class, with Kate Keegan representing Powerscourt National School in second.

Action moves both west and south-east this weekend, as Clifden Community School is the host in Ower Equestrian and Wexford Equestrian is running an event as well.