MIRIAM Kenna had a difficult task in winning the TRI Equestrian advanced primary show jumping division at the AIRC Riding Clubs Festival at Mullingar Equestrian Centre last weekend due to the large number of starters in the class.
Just over half of the field of 60 starters made it through to the jump-off round where Kenna, who was fifth last to jump, crossed the finish line in a time of 31.95, just ahead of the optimum time of 32 seconds to claim the honours as her 15-year-old brown gelding left all of the fences intact.
It was a narrow victory for the Enfield resident as Tara Hill’s Catherine Moore was hot on her heels in a time of 32.13 on Hollys Missy to take the runner-up spot.
Miriam Kenna said afterwards: “It’s a wonderful feeling to win a rosette of any colour at the Festival, but to get a red one in such a big class is a great achievement. The course rode lovely with sufficient challenges on the second part of the course. The change to the optimum time rule has made the class more competitive, encouraging AP’s to ride well not only focusing on going clear but now ensuring that a good canter is established to get the optimum time, both of which I nailed on this occasion.”
ADVANCED PRIMARY
Friary’s Julie Polden (Not More Clover) and Three Counties Vicky Collins (Fabienne KWPN) ran out victors in the TRI Equestrian advanced primary accumulator as they were the only pair with two clear rounds.
Benbulben’s Avril Burke filled three of the top six places in the TRI Equestrian intermediate competition where almost half of the 77 starters made it through to jump-off over Pauric Geraghty’s course.
Burke was the only rider to cross the line under 23 seconds in the jump-off to claim the spoils on her 12-year-old skewbald gelding Rookery Apache. Her time of 22.83 gave her a narrow win over Cheval’s Sarah Jane Flanagan (Merrywell Splash of Clover) who stopped the clock on 23.79. Burke also took third on Rookery Sparkle and fourth on Rookery Blue to finish off an incredible run in a highly competitive class.
It didn’t stop there for Burke as the Benbulben rider went on to win the TRI Equestrian intermediate power and speed class on Rookery Blue. The Collooney resident was fastest of the 11 clear rounds in the competition out of the 40 starters in a time of 34.26. Pamela Steenson (Golden Bready) was next best on 34.30 for Mullaghmore.
Another rider who had a run of good fortune last weekend was Ashley Daniel from the visiting East Cheshire Combined Training Group. For the second year in a row, the Middlewich resident won the TRI Equestrian Open and Advanced Open division riding her 13- year-old bay mare Abba.
Daniel was quickest of the six riders who jumped a double clear round and her time of 30.70 kept her ahead of second-placed Aoife Maguire (Mane Attraction) from Killossery on 31.56.
The East Cheshire CTG rider also claimed the open and advanced open power and speed class where Daniel was the only rider to cross the line under 26 seconds. Her time of 25.78 on Abba kept her well ahead of second-placed Brian Cassidy on Looks Easy on 27.16.
Aisling McGrath won the TRI Equestrian open and advanced open table a speed class for the second year in a row on Ti Amo Darcy. The Corrib rider’s time of 57.79 gave her a considerable advantage over second-placed Aisling Donohue (Walmore Sport) on 63.06.
Leonard Reamsbottom finished fastest of three riders who kept clean sheets in the TRI Equestrian advanced intermediate competition. The Coole Lane rider crossed the line in a time of 25.78 on Lightening Spirit to claim the win from the 21 riders who made it through to the jump-off.
Jacqueline Murphy won the power and speed class after the Thomastown and District rider stopped the clock on 27.95 with all fences intact on Inspector Imp. Murphy was the only rider to go below 28 seconds to claim the win for the Kilkenny club.
TRENIER TRIUMPHS
Meanwhile, in the table a speed class, Lorraine Trenier (Castletara Trendsetter) had a narrow over Three Counties Marie Crosse (St Helene). Trenier just withheld a strong challenge from Crosse with less then 0.31 seconds separating the top two.
Some 14 riders made it through to the second round of the primary division where Ciaran Lynch had the narrowest of wins on General Montgomery. His time 36.12 left the Rathangan rider just 0.12 seconds off the target while second-placed Melissa Mc Veigh was next on 35.87 on Oos Rosie, just 0.13 off the target.
Friary’s Pauline Woodhouse finished best of the 12 double clear rounds in the seniors’ show jumping class on Ravenclaw while in the young horse class, Donal Keneally held out for a win on Killea Storm with the only clear in the jump-off for Devils Bit.