THE Bucas Secondary Schools Jumping League final had a very chilly start to the day at Killossery Lodge Stud last Sunday and proceedings got under way with the individual class.

Loreto St Micheal’s representative Ciara Maguire, riding the ever consistent Urrachree Briana, who was in the lead in the league, unfortunately had a pole down in the first round. School mate Susanna Mullen and Trydgaser kept Loreto Navan in the prize line-up with a finish time of 41.33, good enough to finish eventual fifth. Belvedere’s David Dowse finished slightly slower with Balackhall Blossom in a time of 43.42.

Isabel Ward with Chloe, riding for Mount Sackville, went through the finish line in 38.93 which looked good enough to win the class. The very consistent North Star, ridden by Katie Attley from Rush, crossed the finish line in 39.13, good enough for eventual third place and joint winner of the league.

Katie was joined in the line-up by her brother Kevin, riding Duchess, who slotted into fourth place. However, it was Marie Cormican and Grey Chance, who sailed through the finish in 38.34 to take home the winner’s rug. League winners Ciara Maguire and Katie Attley took home the bridles.

The secondary team competition got under way a with a total of nine teams and the first team to jump clear was Loreto Swords with Loreto Balbriggan ensuring a jump-off by also finishing on a total of zero. These were followed by Santa Sabina and Mount Sackville. The fastest of the four faulters was Dunshaughlin who took fifth place and Sutton Park/Rush took sixth in the final line-up. The jump-off produced its usual excitement. First in was Nadia McKittrick, who unfortunately had some navigational issues, while Siofra Ni Scanaill and the mature Calucci produced an excellent clear.

Closest to the winners were Loreto Balbriggan with a total of four faults from Anna Sheridan and Cody in a time of 38.71, while team mate Chloe Rogers produced a clear round in a time of 43.75. Close on their heels were the team from Santa Sabina with Danielle Phillips jumping clear and Keelin Malone picking up an unfortunate eight faults. The last team in, Mount Sackville, also had a clear from Isabel Ward with four faults from Marie Cormican and a faster time took the winner’s spot. The €600 winner’s league prize went to Dunshaughlin who hadn’t won the coveted trophy since 2009. Taking home the €200 prize for second in the league was Mount Sackville.

PRIMARY ACTION

The Jumpinaction.com primary schools novice individuals kicked off the afternoon session with a total of nine riders dividing the class. Local school Rolestown NS was represented by Jack Grogan with Sparkling Little Surprise.

St Mary’s NS was represented by Catherine O’Connor riding Casper and her brother Alex riding Tweety. Phoebe Horgan of St Andrew’s Curragha continued her consistent form with Fleur.

Lily Cormican joined the line-up with Calypso from Castleknock. Dunsany was well represented with both Emily Brooks on Glacier Express and Katie Cotrell with Katies Hero joining the prize winners.

Also coming from further afield was Ashford’s Sasha Turner with Deelriver Copper. Once again in the line-up was Sophie Killian and Benji from Boardsmill.

The league winner in this section was Phoebe Horgan with the diminutive Fleur, while taking joint-second in the league were Isla Smith from Rolestown with Trigger and Alex O’Connor riding Tweety from St Mary’s and Sophie Killian with Benji representing Boardsmill.

The open individual was exciting with Anna White making an unscheduled dismount from Breakfast at Tiffanys, but she was fine and went through the finish in a good enough time to win the class.

Her closest rival came in the consistently quick Vickys Star, ridden by Natalie Larkin, who crossed the finish line in 21.87. This time was good enough for second, but her dad Paul was not on hand to witness her take home the bridle for league winner as he is currently in Wellington with her older sister Emily. Dangan schoolmate Eve Killian with Milly slipped in to third spot in a time of 22.18. Alannah Turner from St Gerard’s crossed the line in 22.91 with Deelriver Copper to finish in fourth but also took sixth place with her other ride, Boulabehas Golden Boy. The final line-up place went to Gina Murray with Inse Esrah who crossed the line in 23.31 to take the fifth spot. Kate Horgan with Ted took the league runner-up spot.

EXCITING FINISH

The primary teams had an exciting finish with eight teams through to the jump-off. The first team in was Corduff with both Ruth Barrett and Ciara Hartford jumping clear rounds in a combined score of 44.93, enough for fifth place. Kildangan blue team member Joshua Halford crossed the finish line in a good time of 22.24, as did team mate Cian Reilly who finished in 23.55, good enough for eventual sixth.

The combined Naul, Castleknock, Kilcloon, St Micheal’s team had Sasha Doherty and JP O’Connor finish on a combined score of 43.14, good enough for third but also enough to take the first place in the league and go home with the lovely bridles, kindly sponsored by Laurence Dunne of Jumpinaction.com.

The next team in, St Andrew’s Curragha saw Eabha Toole finish on a time of 23.35 and Kate Horgan, in the amazing time of 19. 96, finish fourth and carry off second place in the league.

The next team in, Scoil ui Riada/Athgarvan, saw both the experienced combinations of Anna White with the fast Breakfast at Tiffanys and Yasmin Murray on board Blaze sail through the finish in times of 18.65 and 20.10 respectively to take the winning rugs. Competing in their first jump-off in the league, Gael Scoil na Boinne showed they could be a force to be reckoned with in next year’s league as both Gina Murray and Kate Evans’ combined total of 42.96 was good enough for second place.