THE strength of interschools show jumping was very evident in Barnadown Equestrian Centre last Sunday as Coláiste Bhríde hosted 44 teams at their annual event in Gorey.

John Doyle and Felim O’Dowd put their heads together to build three imaginative but challenging tracks to test the skills of each combination. The success of this day was made possible by the excellent facilities available at Barnadown but also the hardworking team of parents, teachers, past pupils, friends and family that came out in force to brave the elements.

Throughout the day the three show jumping arenas were action-packed. The TRI Equestrian open teams class saw nine teams battle it out for the coveted positions. With only three teams to finish faultless, the Coláiste Bhríde Carnew team of Claire Hill Doyle, Emily Wafer, Lucy Walsh and Chloe Walsh finished with a perfect score and an impressive 5.56 seconds to spare. Second place went to Loreto Wexford with Aoife Griffith, Isabell Walsh, Freya Barry and Hannah Rose Roche, a team that are no strangers to being in the top tier. They were joined by St Mary’s New Ross whose team managed to come a very close third.

The Hopoti Novice teams had an impressive entry with 17 teams in the competition. Again, only three teams finished on a final score of zero faults when met with the technical track.

The winning team came along late in the day from Loreto Wexford with Shannon Griffith, Caitlin Griffith, Sadie Moran and Ruby Cousins, who were all foot-perfect with a combined time of 83.71 seconds. Second place also went to a team from Loreto Wexford, who stopped the clock in 95.78 seconds with zero faults. Team riders were Harriet Bolger, Mary Kate Kelly, Theresa Martin and Izzie Bates. St Gerard’s Bray earned third place with team members Isabelle Galligan, Isabella DiBiasi, Saoirse DiBiasi and Kate Buckley. They also had no jumping faults and their finishing time was 98.32 seconds.

Best turned out open team were Coláiste Bhríde (Blue team) left to right - Robyn Gahan Darcy, Alison Byrne, Abbie Byrne and Grace Shannon \ Blue Raven Photography

Primary teams

The Primary team competition was hotly contested with 17 teams starting. First place went to the well-represented Rathangan NS who finished on zero faults in a time of 86.56 seconds. Team members were Billy Scallan, Gracie Kelly, Sadhbh Whelan and Annie Stafford. The second place rosette went to Kilmore NS who had a finishing time of 88.83 seconds without faults. The team riders were Rosie Scallon, Saoirse Cousins, Maisy Mooney and Jessie Cousins. Mayglass NS earned third place with riders Lottie Codd, Cora Goff, Aoife Robinson and Lucy Day who finished on 88.85 seconds, again with no faults.

The winner in the Primary individual league class was Lucy Day representing Mayglass NS. Second place went to Lilly Kelly from Blackwater NS. Andrew English, representing Bree NS took the third rosette.

Individuals

An amazing 37 individual riders competed in the Hopoti novice 80cm competition. First place went to Chloe Laloo who represented Holy Child Killiney. Isabel Smith, a pupil in Newbridge College, was placed second, with third place going to Mark O’Leary, who represented St Michael’s College.

The Equieire 90cm qualifier had 31 strong competitors. The qualifier went to Sarah Ryan from Presentation Carlow. In second place, from Loreto College Wexford, was Kathryn Griffith. Third place went to Ivana Cahill representing Coláiste Abhainn Rí.

The TRI Equestrian open individual competition was won by Hannah Rose Roche from Loreto Wexford. Second place went to Mia O’Donnell from St Declan’s Community College. Ellie O’Connor, a student in Creagh College, took third.

In the TRI Equestrian Premier 1.10m individual qualifier, first place went again to Hannah Rose Roche from Loreto Wexford. Representing Coláiste Bhríde, Carnew, Chloe Walsh was placed second. Emma Byrne from Avondale College qualified third.

This was a great day of Equestrian Interschools’ jumping where special recognition was given to those teams who put the extra effort into their appearance, with the Coláiste Bhride Carnew open team of Grace Shannon, Alison Byrne, Robyn Gahan Darcy and Abbie Byrne managing to outshine all others for the Best Turned Out prize.

Not to be ignored was the Coláiste Bhríde Carnew novice team of Ellie Mae Fortune, Erin Davies, Lily Kate Buttle and Joel Keane who plaited their way to success in the novice teams’ arena. In the primary schools’ arena, the team effort of Katie Murphy Kehoe, Rhys O’Brien, Ben Broderick and Bobby Walsh to present themselves and their ponies at their best paid off to win the best turned out award.

Coláiste Bhríde thanked Equestrian Schools Ireland, Barnadown and all sponsors for their invaluable support. The league continues tomorrow, Sunday, October 26th, in Tipperary’s Ballynonty Equestrian and Bank Holiday Monday in Shanakill Equestrian, Waterford.