THERE was great support from businesses, both local and further afield, for the Area 17 show jumping which the Tullylagan Branch of The Pony Club ran at The Meadows last Friday.

On a day of blazing sunshine, members were given lots of advice on how to cope with warmer temperatures and the majority of the classes ran without a separate jump-off in recognition of the heat. Competitors were allowed to ride without jackets.

The action in Arena 1 got underway at 8.15am with the Mini/Major qualifier for the London International Horse Show in December.

The Iveaghs’ Caitie McEvoy, who partnered a third of the nine entries, recorded two of the three double clears, stopping the clock on 26.65 in the five-pony jump-off on the 19-year-old bay mare Tynan Tuttle Pip. East Antrim’s Georgia Bingham qualified in second on board the 14-year-old Connemara mare Sweet Lily (26.80).

The only Branch to field a team at PC110 level was the day’s hosts Tullylagan whose Aine Clancy, with the fastest four faults on the Dutch-bred six-year-old mare Patricia Nita, had to settle for second individually behind East Antrim’s Sophia Bingham who recorded the only clear round on the eight-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Untouchable Cavalier.

The winner of the day’s horsemanship award was the East Antrims’ Cayleigh Erwin who finished fourth here on Murph who she competes at EI110 (J) level with Eventing Ireland.

Sandwiched in second between two composite Area quartets, Tullylagan were also the Branch winners in the PC100 where 10 teams competed. Mid Antrim’s Charlotte McAllister claimed the individual honours on the eight-year-old ISH mare Captain Missy Finn.

The North Downs doubled up at PC90 level where their winning Red team included Tilly Ham who comfortably topped the individual leaderboard with the 16-year-old British-bred gelding Akaroa Bittersweet who she also competes with EI. First to jump in Arena 2 were the seven starters in the PC70+ which was won by Emily Dobbin of the East Antrim Branch riding Ellie.

In the following PC70 team event, the North Down Monkeys ran out the comfortable winners which wasn’t too surprising as their Rosalie Wells (Cynbrook Heiress), Emily Robertson (Hillside Nicely Dun) and Molly Reid (Little Me) filled the top three-places in the individual competition.

A composite Area 17 quartet landed the PC80 team competition with the Branch honours once again going the way of the North Downs whose Skittles foursome included Reid and Wells. The latter completed a second double on the day when topping the individual leaderboard on the eight-year-old British-bred mare Cynbrook Heiress.

In Arena 3, the East Antrim Swans won the Mini team competition at 55cms/60cms level but it was Ella Hagan of the third-placed Iveagh Dalmations squad who claimed the individual honours on board Shanny. There was plenty of excitement in the assisted and unassisted 40cms classes.