Helen O’Neill and Alyssa O’Neill

A PACKED weekend of show jumping took place for the final of the Equestrian Interschools Ireland league hosted by Coilog EC last weekend. The finals attracted teams from all over the country with some staying overnight in the venue to take part in both days of the competition.

The weekend’s activities commenced on Saturday in the Hornbeam arena with the open team competition, which provided the last chance to gain points before the league final were on offer.

Of the teams competing, four finished on a qualifying score of zero faults to make it into the hotly-contested jump off. Three teams finished the jump-off on a clean sheet so the decision was down to the fastest time and Colaiste Bhride Carnew took the spoils in 74.09 seconds. The team members were Julie Mullins, Aoife Kavanagh, Frankie Kavanagh and Emer Kavanagh.

Second place went to Wesley College (76.65), while third place went to Grey Community College (78.48) and fourth place was awarded to Good Counsel New Ross (four faults, 68.43). There was also a jump-off for the four-faulters to decide placings for fifth and sixth position and in the end Wesley College took fifth and sixth went to Newbridge College.

The class line-up did little to change to the league placings at that point, which meant it would be all to play for among the schools heading into the final on the following day.

In the novice teams event, local team Kildare Town Community School took the spoils through the efforts of Lauren Page, Katie Kelly, Lee Page and Lara Turner. Second place went to Loreto Secondary School Wexford, followed by Piper’s Hill Naas in third and Ballymena Academy, winners of the novice teams in the MEC Interschools Northern Ireland league, in fourth. Ballymena Academy also received a prize as Northern Ireland representatives on the day. The Loreto team took home the turn-out prize.

In the open individual competition, 15 competitors took part in the competition to try and gain important points for the final. Of the 15, nine made it through to the jump-off and seven riders finished on a zero score, making time the deciding factor.

Winning with a clear round in a fast time of 31.88 was Kirsti Connole riding Beech Hall from St Gerard’s Bray. Closely finishing in second place was Kirsti’s teammate Mark Finnerty (Too Posh) who finished less than 0.2 of a second behind her on 32.00.

Daniel Fitzgerald (Gucci) took third position on 35.64, while Caoimhe Sweeney, Poppy Connolly-Carew and Shona Callan were awarded fourth, fifth and sixth position respectively.

Saturday also held the last of the qualifying rounds for the Horse Sport Ireland-sponsored Premier 1.10m class where individuals fought to gain a place in the final. Taking both first and second position was Mikey Pender (Derrymore Chips and Riverview Annie). Pender had qualified another pony (Lily) but under the rules of the competition, he had to choose two of his three mounts to ride in the final on Sunday.

Third place went to Abigail Boland (Little Miss Burberry), fourth Clodagh Jackman (Imperial Imp), fifth Daniel Fitzgerald (Gucci Lady), and sixth Sam Micklem (Hi Heaven).