David Abbott

KILLOSSERY Riding Club claimed the Horseware team show jumping championship at RDS, a year after they finished as runners-up in the same competition in 2014.

Club captain Aoife Maguire sealed victory for the Dublin-based club, with a clear round when last to jump with Mane Attraction.

Team chef d’equipe Susan Cusack said: “To qualify is an honour in itself but to win is a dream come true. The team rode their hearts out and really held it together. We were the very last ones to leave the RDS on Sunday night so that says something.”

Almost 130 teams took part in qualifiers around the country with the top nine teams going forward to the final which took place the Simmonscourt arena. Clonshire reached the halfway stage on a zero score, the quartet of Lisa Willis, Rachel Lawson, Marie Crosse and Ted Murphy all producing clear rounds.

However Killossery were also tied for the lead after Jacqui Boland, Brian Cassidy and Aoife Maguire provided clear rounds for the North County Dublin club, while Elizabeth Robinson returned with a single error for the discard score.

Clear scorecard

Winterdown were next on five penalties while Highland Lodge, Moyglare and Mo Chara were tied on eight each. Winterdown added 13 penalties second time out to finish sixth, while Mo Chara added just a time penalty to grab fifth place at the finish.Highland Lodge and Moyglare finished with a clear scorecard in the second round to finish on eight faults, while Clonshire, who had looked promising after the first round, also ended the day on eight penalties with Lisa Willis producing their only double clear round.

Tension was mounting as the very last Clonshire rider entered the arena. A clear round for Aoife Maguire would give them the title, while one fence down would have resulted in a four-way jump-off. Maguire and her 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse, Mane Attraction, produced a flawless performance, as Killossery lifted the championship title for the very first time.

The club captain commented: “I was very nervous going in to jump my round but once we got over the first couple of fences the nerves started to go as my mare was jumping super and I really enjoyed it.”

Time decided the remaining places with Clonshire taking second place ahead of Highland Lodge in third and Moyglare in fourth.

Tom McGuinness from Horseware Ireland concluded: “We were once again thrilled to be in a position to support the riding clubs by sponsoring the team show jumping championship. We look forward to continuing our support and consider it a wonderful organisation for promoting horse riding in a very accessible way. We would like to congratulate Killossery on their fantastic win.”