DURING a packed summer of equestrian activity, Area 17 of The Pony Club held their Area show jumping competition on Monday at Castle Irvine, Necarne where it was hosted by the Seskinore Branch.

The competitions were spread over three arenas with the action in the famous Walled Garden getting under way at 8.30am with the Mini/Major individual competition from which the top two riders qualify to compete at the London international show before Christmas when paired with an international rider.

Remarkably, from a field of 13 and following the timed jump-off round, nine-year-old Fermanagh Branch member Rory McBride finished first on Creevelea Firefox (29.34 seconds) and second with Poynstown Little Albert Einstein (29.92) while the East Antrims’ Isla McKinty was third on Killorglin Boy (30.07) and fourth with Slimero Sally (30.53).

Last December, when partnered with Britain’s Matt Sampson, the then 10-year-old Lilly McBride won the relay final on Poynstown Little Albert Einstein who will be left at home this year while his stable-companion travels to London as will Killorglin Boy.

In Monday’s team competitions, the North Down Branch came out on top with a double.

In the PC80, where seven of the 17 teams concluded on a zero score after two rounds of jumping in the Outdoor Arena, the North Downs’ Freya Bevan, Tilly Ham, Molly Reid (the individual winner on Little Me) and Anna Reid claimed the top spot in a time of 71.09 seconds. The Iveagh Holsteins finished second in 77.13 with their Swallowtails teammates placing third in 78.18.

PC90 honours

Molly Reid (North Down) on Little Me won both the 70cm and 80cm classes at the Area 17 of the Pony Club Area Show jumping \ JRS Photography

Those competing at PC90 level did so in the Walled Garden where five of the 15 teams left all the poles intact, two of them within the time. Here the honours went to the North Down quartet of Rachel Booth, Aoife Davis (the individual winner on Oldtown Starling), Erin Doherty and Zac Hanna who, from the three counting riders, posted a combined time of 72.61. The Route placed second in 90.09 while the Tullylagan Reds, who had no discard score, picked up a single time penalty in 84.91.

The Tullylagan Branch ended the day by winning the PC110 competition but did so on 20 faults as just two of the four three-rider teams completed. The winning trio comprised Kym Moore, who had two mounts, and Katie McDonald. The North Down team was eliminated but their Lauren McGlennon, who had two rides, picked up the individual title on board Carrick Kilderrys Diamond.

Ten teams lined out in the PC100 but only the Mid Antrims recorded a zero score over the Alan Lynch and James O’Brien-designed track. This feat was accomplished by Hannah Thompson, Jessica Mark, Charlotte McAllister and Grace Moore. Riding Currabawn Prada, the individual winner Ellie Bingham helped East Antrim Black finish second, on four faults, ahead of East Down Tullybranigan on eight.

The East Down Branch achieved top spot on the podium when winning the PC70 team competition in the Outdoor Arena thanks to the efforts of Annie Lucas, Tara Hanna Kerr, Charlotte Gray and Annie Lucas on a second ride. From a starting field of 12 teams, they posted the fastest of four clears in 78.85 followed by East Antrim Red (89.23) and the Wee Sweeties (90.51). Here, Molly Reid again claimed the individual honours riding the 13-year-old appaloosa mare Little Me while the PC70 Plus competition was won by Seskinore’s Madison O’Kane on Be Royal.

Members competing at 55cm level jumped in the Rose Garden where the Iveagh Orcas foursome of Lucy Davidson, Ella Hagan (the individual winner on Rainbow), Chloe Hall and Sadie Keys came out on top ahead of the Dolly Mixtures and East Antrim Butterflies.