THERE was no team competition at last Sunday’s Connolly’s Red Mills/Association of Irish Riding Clubs’ national show jumping championships at the Mullingar Equestrian Centre but, had there been, Belbulben would have claimed the honours.

Safeguarding officer Fiona Tansey, who has held the positions of chairperson and secretary in the past, and training officer Emma O’Connor, who are members of the only AIRC-affiliated club in Co Sligo, won the RC110 /RC120 championship and the RC90 championship respectively on two registered Irish Sport Horses.

Three riders went through to a timed third round in the RC110 and RC120 championship where Tansey recorded the only treble clear on board Talbots Lass, a 14-year-old Cameron Velvet mare, who was bred in Co Kilkenny by Pat Hutchinson out of Mrs Bounce (by Grange Bouncer). With the faster four-fault round, Kilrainy’s Amanda Jayne Comyn finished second on GMH Ability (43.51) ahead of Greenhills’ Mia Browne riding Empress Nala (45.30).

“Mullingar is a great venue and this is the third year in-a-row that I’ve won this championship!” revealed Tansey, a medical secretary to two doctors and a national judge with Showjumping Ireland. I got the mare when she was seven and have had some great days with her. We were on the Benbulben team who won at the British Riding Clubs’ championships in 2019 and also represented Benbulben at the AIRC team show jumping championships in 2022.

“I also jump her as an amateur with SJI but it’s very, very difficult to make it to Dublin as there are huge numbers in those qualifiers. We had a slow start to the season but did compete in the Wildcard final at the Festival. I got to give her a 1.10m jump last Wednesday week as I knew I wouldn’t have much of a chance later on as I was judging all day Friday and Saturday at the pony show in Cavan.”

Tansey’s son and daughter both have horses but she may soon come under pressure as the family’s stand-out equestrian as her three three-year-old grandaughter Quinn Horan has now started riding her own Shetland pony Dino.

RC90 championship

In the RC90 championship, where four combinations from just under 50 starters got through to the timed round, no one managed to leave all the poles intact a third tme. Belbulben’s Emma O’Connor posted much the faster four-faulter on Acrefield Enzo (48.72) to claim the title ahead of Abbeylands’ Marie Therese Meade riding Mo Chara Darcy (68.04). Warrington’s Daragh Callanan placed third with Ruthstown Holly Sue (eight faults).

The home-bred Acrefield Enzo is a Traditional ISH gelding by the Connemara stallion Ross Fear Bui out of the Irish Draught mare Dosley High Hopes (by On A High). “He was officially bred by my husband Lorcan who has retained the dam’s only filly (Acrefield Gigi, by Gentle Diamond),” said O’Connor who grew up doing dressage.

“I started jumping her in sportsman’s classes as a five-year-old but then she had an easy couple of years as I had my two children, Ella (two) and Fiachra (one). I did get to ride on the Benbulben team at Dublin in 2023 and my plan is to register with Showjumping Ireland next year to jump in amateurs. At the moment, I’m enjoying competing her at 90cms level in the unaffiliated eventing league at Flowerhill and won a leg a couple of weeks ago.”

RC100 championship

Elaine Wilson narrowly failed to bring off a treble for Benbulben when, as one of just two through to the timed round in the RC100 championship, she had a fence down with Mermus Hill leaving Burren chairperson Margaret Corry to claim the title following her clear on with Quitano B. A single time penalty in the first round saw Abbeylands’ Kitty Shanahan finish third on Carrick Diamond Promise.

A 17-year-old Dutch-bred gelding by Quasimodo Z out of the Lupicor mare Zeta Jones B, Quitano B was first produced on the SJI scene in March 2013 by Shane Kenny and, under a variety of riders, accumulated the majority of his 181 points. Corry began jumping him in amateur company in July 2022.

Of her win on Sunday, Corry commented: “Misneach gave it everything, and when we cleared the last fence, the feeling was unbelievable. I’m so grateful for our coach Stephen Cox - his support makes days like this possible. There’s nothing like the spirit and camaraderie of an AIRC event.”

There was a fourth win for the West Region when Stracomer’s Eilish Calgie recorded a third clear round in the RC80 championship on Bibi Scrabo Blaze.

Abbeylands’ Lyndsey O’Toole, who was her only chellenge in the timed round, had a fence down with Lumcloon Maisie with another Benbulben member, Edel McGowan, finishing third having picked up one time penalty in both earlier rounds on Shannondale Dita.

It was only in January that Calgie took over the ride on Bibi Scrabo Blaze and she getting to know the 11-year-old black gelding better with each outing.

“I have to give a big thank you to Erin and Derek at Stracomer Stables for all the help they have given me along the way as I have Blaze stabled there and also to the Stracomer club gang, and girls at the yard.

“I am looking forward to whatever is next for Blaze and myself in the future, starting with the dressage championships here again next month.”