THE final of the Crawford Clarke Cars-sponsored autumn/winter show jumping league took place at Lusk Equestrian last Sunday concluding a 10-week series which witnessed some fantastic jumping.

Despite terrible weather, there was a large turnout from both seasoned campaigners and new competitors alike, all keen to jump in a great arena over courses designed by Colm Quinn.

As two weeks of the league were washed out by the weather, the attendance requirement had been reduced to three and with this in mind and good money on offer at the final, there was a certain excitement in the air.

The day started with the crosspoles class with double clear rounds coming from Josh Knox (Applejack), Chloe Agnew (Dusty) and Anna McEvoy (Dusty), the points gained from this added to those already earned saw Chloe emerge as the winner of this league ahead of Clara Potts on (Blueboy) in second with Anna McEvoy on (Indie) taking third and Josh Knox finishing in fourth.

Largest entry

This was followed by the 50cms class which has proved to be very popular and had the largest entry of the day. There were eight combinations through to the jump-off on a zero score with each of these going faster than the previous one until the last to go, Alfie Adair (Max) stopped the clock in 42.03 to take the win, narrowly beating Ellen McEvoy (Indie) this pair clear in 44.06. Catherine Patterson (Master Midnight Mojoe) were third, clear in 53.02.

With the points all calculated, the league winner was Ellen McEvoy (Indie) ahead of Seren Mageean (Rosie Bud) with Chloe Agnew (Dusty) finishing in third. Fourth place went to Rebecca Belshaw (Mr Reeba), fifth to Amelia Wysocka (Bumble) and sixth to Catherine Patterson (Master Midnight Mojoe).

The 70cms class saw a good entry from which six combinations produced a first round clear leading to a very exciting jump-off. Amy Harvey (Crossowen Timmy) came out at the top when jumping clear in a time of 37.56 to not only win the class but to top the league leader board. Taking second in the class was Lucy Thompson (Corky) also clear in a time of 38.74, this helping them to a sixth place in the league. Anna Reid (Brooklyn Beckham) left everything standing in a time of 39.05 to take third in the class and fourth in the league. Fourth place in the class for Jane Hill (Peachy) saw this pair finish in runner-up spot in the league. Scott Ferguson (Harvey Moon) picked up eight faults in the jump-off but a sixth place class finish saw them take fifth in the league while Stephanie Boyle (Eden Star) claimed third place in the league.

COMPETITIVE

In the 80cms, there were four combinations clear in the first round, league leader going into the final, Liz Cunningham, was one of those and in a bid to retain her title, the sponsor’s wife set off against the clock producing a super clear round in 38.25 to win the class and the league on Paddy. Hazel English (Mac) also jumped clear but could only manage a time of 40.27 for second place in the class with Holly Stewart (Sidesaddle Punchinello) finishing in third place in both the class and the league having jumped clear in 42.62. Lucy Thompson (Corky) picked up eight faults to take sixth in the class but took second in the league.

There were only two eligible combinations in the 90cms class and Eric Pele on board Felicity Pierce’s grey gelding Smokie won the class and the league ahead of Pele’s pupil Darragh Hanlon (Buckaroo) with Rory Kinnear taking third place in the class on Cash.

Both the one metre and 1.10m classes were made up of members of the Pele family as Leo (Lisbane Fly) won both classes and both leagues with sister Harriet taking second in both divisions on Lisbane Finch and Leo claiming third again in both classes on Vincent. All credit goes to Jenny and Harold who ensured that the facilities were in great condition every week even through challenging conditions and thanks to the competitors and sponsors Crawford Clarke Cars.

There is a full programme of events about to be released for 2016 incorporating the very successful Garden Eventing, this will be bigger and better than ever and has a new twist to it for next year so please keep an eye on the website www.luskhorsesireland and on the facebook page lusk equestrian centre.