LAST Wednesday, McKee Barracks played host to the Centenary Youth Show with 94 combinations descending on the Army Equitation School for top class showjumping.
The event was welcomed by riders and spectators who got an opportunity to visit the facility and, for the first time, to attend a competition there.
Enjoyable and high quality
Speaking afterwards, Commandant Geoff Curran said: “We are delighted with The Equitation School Youth Show, as part of our centenary celebrations we felt it was important to include the next generation of riders.
“Everybody seemed to have had an enjoyable day, the standard of riding was very high, and the sport was very good.
“A thank you to Capt. David Power (retired) for donating a prize fund for the best Equitation Round and the best turned out of each class.
“We look forward to welcoming the top 10 from each class back to McKee in the near future, the ponies will have a day’s training with Lt. Col Gerry Mullins (retired) and the Under 25s with Comdt. John Ledingham (retired)”.
Rockbarton 148cm
The first class, the Rockbarton 148cm saw 48 pairings battle it out over two rounds. Claiming the victory and the winner’s share of the €1,500 was Munster’s Sam Widger and the Sandra Duffy-owned Little Smithe, when clear in 33.55 seconds. Connaught rider Cathal McKeon-Devaney took second with Bob Sweeney’s Nokio, when they also left the poles standing in 34.55.
Ted Fagan was less than a second behind with Deryn Mackay’s seven-year-old Little Miss Susie, clear in 36.30. Sam Widger was certainly on form, returning to take fourth with Olga Doyle’s eight-year-old Future Ohlala, clear in 36.53. A clear from Lucy McCarthy and Gorm in 36.92 saw them take fifth place. Completing the top six was Georgia de Bromhead and Shamrock Du Gite, when clear in 37.32.
Kilbaha Under-25 class
The Kilbaha Under 25 class saw 46 battle it out for the €2,000 prize fund. It was a exciting class with just five double clears being delivered.
Taking the win was Junior rider James Derwin and Amos L Z when they kept all the poles in place in 44.10.
Fractions behind was Marta Hughes Bravo and HHS Figero when they galloped home in 44.73.
Conrad Sweeney and Monty Python De L’Amitie opted for the safer lines, and it paid off, coming home with nothing to add in 46.10. Isobel Sheehan and Athea Clover Trend slotted into fourth when they came home clear in 49.01.
Accounting for fifth place was Ruby Lily Gaines and Royal Cornet MRO, when they were the last of the double clears in 50.58. Jack Ryan put in the fastest time of the second round with DSH Vigo Sea, but it came at a price as he had one on the ground in 43.89 for sixth.