THE Association of Irish Riding Clubs held its Connolly’s Red Mills national show jumping championships last Sunday at Mullingar Equestrian where, for the first time, the programme included the RC70/RC80 team show jumping championships.

Six of the Association’s eight Regions were represented. Following two rounds of jumping, the winners were Warrington who completed on four faults. Two teams finished with eight faults apiece, Meath edging ahead of Highland Lodge to place second on accumulated times in the second round.

“Warrington Riding Club are very proud of our team,” commented club secretary Michelle Delaney McCormack. “It was the second time that the same team, the Warrington Wonder Women, qualified for the final and, after training all year with instructor Fraser Duffy, they secured the win.

“Huge thanks to Elaine (Dunne, the AIRC’s General Manager) and Nicola Conway for organising this competition and to the sponsors, Foran Equine, for the lovely rugs and prizes.”

The RC70 WarringtonWonder Women were Josephine Britton who competes solely in show jumping with her 23-year-old bay gelding Mikey Joe, and Anne McGrath who does a bit of everything with her 15-year-old Connemara gelding Mahanagh Heather (Rathcoona Cove – Oranmore Lass, by Lough George Prince) and will be competing in the South East Region national dressage qualifier tomorrow at the Tinehely RC showgrounds.

At RC80 level, the club was represented by Joan Byrne, who competes across all disciplines with her 18-year-old bay gelding Nancys Boy, and June McGrath who also does a bit of everything with the Irish Sport Horse mare Dromore Chinook (Chinook Eclipse – The Lords Star, by Fahavane Arctic Star). McGrath and her eight-year-old bay didn’t have to jump a second round.

Chef d’equipe for the team was club chairperson Anne Phelan Bradley.

The quartet were also being supported at Mullingar by Francoise Foley Fisher, Roisin McGrath and Rory O’Sullivan Hennessy.

Throughout the day the prizes were presented by either John Geraty of Connolly’s Red Mills or Nicola Conway who is providing maternity leave cover in the AIRC office in Naas.

As well as organising the championships and trouble shooting, Elaine Dunne, the AIRC’s general manager, was one of the scorers on the day. She expressed her thanks to the officials and volunteers and, of course, to the sponsors.