WEXFORD Equestrian Centre kicked off the Interschools season with great excitement as their large all weather sand arena was in competition use for the first time.
Loreto Wexford were clearly the school of the day with a double clean sweep of the secondary schools competition on Sunday winning both the Novice team event and the Open team event.
Wexford Equestrian pulled out all the stops with great prizes on offer from Bolgers Hardware Ballycogley with their own feed offered to prize winners as well as prizes from the ever popular Doagh Equestrian.
Fourteen teams battled to get points on the novice league table for both the Wexford Equestrian Novice League and the new national league now introduced by the Equestrian Interschools Ireland committee and TRI Equestrian. This league will run alongside the ever poular TRI Open League.
Only four teams landed the clear round scores to jump-off - St Mary’s New Ross, Loreto Wexford, Presentation Wexford Green and Kilkenny College. The fastest two riders scores in the jump-off were Loreto Wexford’s Faye Murphy and Katie O’Connor with a combined time of 74.34 while leaving all the poles up. Second was Kilkenny College’s Jasper Kelly with Hetty Cope, clear in 87.63.
Third place went to Presentation Wexford Green with Lauren Reck and Ciara Moore in 83.83 but with a pole on the ground.
Placing fourth was St Mary’s New Ross with Martha Power and Heidi Hoff jumping for the team.
Competitive action
Seven competing teams produced some very competitive jumping with Loreto Wexford winning as one of only two clear teams through to the jump-off. Eventual winners Eimear Jackman and Ciara Banville went clear in 87.06, while second place went to Gorey Community School who finished on 87.17 but with three poles down.
First in, Dominican College ended on a four fault score to place third while Borris VC were fourth with a slightly slower time, also on four faults.
Fifth place went to Loreto Wexford and St Peter’s team, who also picked up the best turned out prize, while St Mary’s New Ross were sixth. In seventh was FCJ Bunclody who fielded just three riders.
Out in force
Primary Team riders were out in force and were delighted to jump in the large new sand arena just opened that day with a massive warm-up arena well able to accommodate all the young riders. Ten teams competed overall. Many of the 55cm riders were making their competitive debut and eventually three teams reached the jump-off on zero scores.
The eventual winners were the mixed team of Rosslare Stran/Galbally/Raheen/Shilbeggen NS with Noah Murhpy, Ciara crowther, Jessie Bates and Ava Kelly winning the rugs.
Second place went to the seasoned competitors from St Carrigbeg/St Columbia/Crossabeg NS with Ross Warren, Ava Doyle, Emily Salter and Sam Lil Salter piped by only two seconds in the jump-off. Third place went to Adamstown/St Mary’s/Danes Castle School with Imogen Whelan, Derbhala O’Dwyer, Una O’ Dwyer and Emily Deacon having a pole down but were faster by 10 seconds.
The next interschools at Wexford Equestrian is on Sunday, November 3rd as part of their own league. Meanwhile, weekly dates can be found on the Equestrian Interschools website.