COMPETITION in the latest round of the TRI Equestrian Interschools opened with the novice individual class at Killossery Lodge Stud.

Taking an early lead by going clear with a time of 27.01 seconds was Ralph DJ, ridden by Fay Durkin representing St Gerard’s. The next to try to beat her time was Cliona Mitchell on Bishops Hall Joe from Scoil Mhuire and her clear round in 31.87 was enough to slot her in to eventual fifth place.

Dunshaughlin Community student Hallie Crow with Spirit was the closest to the leader, taking second place in a time of 29.74, closely followed by The Dashing Black, ridden by Lucy Leonard from Scoil Mhuire, who crossed the finish line in a time of 31.12 for third.

Ciara Synott, who is a student in Dunshaughlin Community, took fourth place riding Mylo, clear in 31.14.

The novice team competition resulted in a very exciting win for Newbridge College as it went down to the wire with schools in the jump-off. Max Ross riding Ballydavid Souz and Niamh Behan with Mullaballoo were the two riders nominated to jump against the clock.

Ross recorded a time of 25.82, while Niamh recorded a time of 28.54 so their tally of 54.36 secured their team the winners’ rugs?

Dunshaughlin Community School was represented in the jump-off by Kyra Synnott with Mylo and Hallie Crow riding Spirit. Both jumped clear and were only narrowly beaten by the winners with a combined time of 60.83 to take second place.

Slotting into third was Scoil Mhuire with Lucy Leonard riding the Dashing Black and Emelie Larkin with Beachbob Star, while fourth place went to St Mary’s Naas represented by Anna Barry with Mirah and Ruth Sargent on Halal’s Magic.

The TRI-sponsored open team competition was won by Borris Vocational School, represented by Catherine Kavanagh riding Coppenagh Blitz and Tadhg Kavanagh with Fanta M, who went clear in an impressive combined time of 53.80.

St Gerard’s slotted into second place with Milly O’Loughlin on Comical Con and Ronan Byrne riding Shergar Rose (56.87), while third place was filled by The Kings Hospital duo of Anna Fitzpatrick with Drynam Dancer and Georgie Connolly Carew on Coolteen Diamond (61.35). Wesley College students Holly Micklem riding Sunny Girl and Tilly Shaw on Bushmills Fionn slotted into fourth and Castleknock College took fifth with Jody Kidd on Curraghe Bon and Colm Fitzpatrick with Kilimore Magic.

In the TRI open individual competition, Ronan Byrne and Shergar Rose from St Gerards who showed the rest of the class how it should be done by crossing the finish line in a clear in 31.35. His closest rival, Isobel Radford Dodd and Realcool Cruise representing Temple Carraig, whizzed around in a time of 32.90 to take second place. Slotting into third was St Gerard’s representative Milly O’Loughlin and Castleventry Rose (33.36) and Radford Dodd from Temple Carraig appeared again to claim fourth place with Kilure Prince. Fifth went to King’s Hospital student Georgie Connelly Carew on Coolteen Diamond, while Milly O’Loughlin finished sixth with Comical Con.