HORSERAIL, who provide fantastic fencing for horses, sponsored the horses’ winter league at Ballyrafter and were rewarded with brilliant finals last Sunday. With superb prizes on offer, everyone appreciated this great opportunity to compete and a wonderful day’s jumping was the result. Pauline Landers laid claim to two firsts when scoring a double with Aille America and Glencairn Six. Michael Healy won a very competitive 1m final with Welcome Bounce and Shane O’Brien took the 1.10m with Pippa. Keelin Coleman won the 80cms final with Sean O’Driscoll’s Nellie and Rachel Raher took the trophy for the leading rider of the league.

The Horserail one-metre was one of the most competitive classes with six through to the jump-off. Lorna Power with her grandfather Tom Cahill’s Burrin Equestrian Rafiki set the standard with clear in 43.04 before Gerard Curtin and Waldora got all extremely tight lines and crossed the beams in 39.90.

This looked safe until last to go, Michael Healy with his lovely pure Irish Draught mare Welcome Bounce, who qualified for Dublin last year, rode with pure confidence to win with the amazing time 37.87 adding the victory to the leader’s award in this league.

The Horserail 1.10m saw Steph Cunningham and her Dublin partner last year another superb mare Ringfort String of Pearls fly round clear in 43.98 but she had to settle for runner-up as Shane O’Brien with his partner Leonora Kiely’s Pippa jumped a fantastic round in 39.88 to claim the winner’s cheque. Andrew Daly took third with his mare Royal Arch who had also won the leaders award.

Earlier, the Horserail 70cms final saw Pauline Landers take the first of her two wins. Peter Fahey’s Aille America flew home the winner in 41.26 beating Ailish Ivory and Rupert who were in top form having set the time of 44.23.

Anna Fee changed careers with her hunter Bosco and took third in his first final. Rachel Raher and her Clonea Silver Spirit were the league leader. Pauline Landers then went on to win the Horserail 90cms final with her mother Joan Dahill’s Glencairn Six. Gail Matson with her homebred Airborne took second spot here and Claire Connors won the leaders trophy with the Dublin winner Rehy I’m A Star.

Six made it through to the Horserail 80cms jump-off and the league leaders Marie Smiddy and Gorgeous Grainne rode a super round against the clock in 50.80, but Keelin Coleman rode Sean O’Driscoll’s Nellie to a very welcome victory in 49.55.

Great EXCITEMENT

The Winter Pony Finals took place Friday evening and provided excitement. Katie Byrne and Up in Smoke won the 40cms final and took the leader’s award for the 50cms, which was won by another first-time rider, Darragh O’Sullivan and Misty.

James Crowley has also made a perfect start to his showjumping career taking two thirds and a leader’s trophy. Friends Amelia Green and Lucy Roche fought out the 60cms final with Amelia winning on her new pony, Snowman. Sonny McCartan, who unfortunately couldn’t make the final, had taken two leader’s awards for the 60cms and 70cms leagues with Harvey and Sam respectively.

Rena Meagher had a fine win in the 70cms final with Summer flying round in 47.50. Odhran Budds had set 51.75 which placed him second ahead of Alannah O’Shea and Bay Reflection who got 52.92. The 80cms final saw 12 through to the jump-off. Emma Byrne and Templebready Rose were first to set a serious threat as she had 44.02 on the clock but her friend Natasha Foley managed to steal ahead of her first with Blue in 42.53 but Araglen Minuska stormed through to win in 35.21. The 90cms final produced seven to the jump-off and again Natasha Foley with Araglen Minuska were up there in 34.75. Alice Tobin and Chuinche Fear Sneachta had a super round in 34.48 to marginally get ahead but never underestimate Sarah Rohan and Porchavodda Donna. They knew what was required and with 33.34 won a brilliant final.

There was compensation though for Alice Tobin when she won the one-metre with Chuinche Fear Sneachta, jumping a fabulous round of 31.91 to steal it from Orla Fleming and Slieve Rusheens Young Oliver who had flown round in 32.20. Sarah Rohan took third here on Knocknahorgan Dreamer but this combination won the leading rider trophy for the league.

Horserail are continuing their sponsorship at Ballyrafter with the Spring Leagues for both horses and ponies so exciting times ahead as these leagues start next week.