The weekend’s activities began in the Hornbeam arena, where 12 open teams went through to the jump-off. Fastest of these was the King’s Hospital team who finished ahead of Wesley College in second and Colaiste Bhride in third. Our Lady of Lourdes New Ross claimed fourth place, ahead of Newbridge College in fifth and sixth. The line-up did not change the league placings, meaning it was all to play for between the five teams heading up the league on the Sunday.
The novice team championship was held in the Lime Arena, the combined Gealcholaiste Ceatharlach/Borris team claimed the win ahead of Loreto Cavan in second place. Three teams jumped off for the remaining places and fastest of these was Wesley College (third), followed by Kildare Community School and Newbridge College.
The novices took on Coilóg’s derby track first and the winner here was Norah Faye’s Misses Mischief, followed by Pippa Durham’s Sky Dolly in second, Jasmine Crothers’ Prince Aragon Spirit in third and Therese Sweeney’s Jimmy Joe. Pippa Durham also finished fifth with Jim Delaney and Caitlin Innes and Buddy finished sixth.
The open derby attracted a large field. Sarah Behan riding Mullabaloo set a very fast pace to take the prize ahead of schoolmate Meadhbh Brassil and St James Gate. Third went to Cian Springate and Kiloughter Nugget, followed by Bronagh Keyes on Pepper in fourth. Luke Heffernan on Ballymoney Peggy was fifth and Julie Keeley with Igor Des Moncreaux was the fastest of the four-faulters to take sixth.
Six combinations made it through to the jump-off in the warm-up HSI-sponsored 1.10m class, which was won by Daniel Holden’s Blessington Flight. Second went to James Kenny, third went to Hannah Sutton, while Meadhbh Brassil and Laura Finnerty finished fourth and fifth respectively. James Kavanagh recorded the only other clear to take sixth.
In Sunday’s novice individual class Gary Fogarty’s Glendine Thunder stole the show ahead of Therese Sweeney’s Jimmy Joe, Clodagh Finlay’s Molly Malone, Hannah Rafferty’s Orbs Dream, and Orla Henry’s Loughville Ranger and, in sixth, Hannah Rasmussen’s Prancing Paudi.
The primary school team event was won in fine style by the combined Borris and Leighlinbridge team of Aoife Murphy’s Silver Blazer; Claire Kavanagh’s Coppenagh Spirit; Sophie Bolger’s Good Morning Major and Catherine Kavanagh’s Coppenagh Blitz.
Second place went to the Scoil Mhuire Drumphea team of Thomas Kearney, Eamon Kavanagh, Aine Kavanagh and Meadhbh Brown.
Third went to Moira Primary School representatives Sarah Moore, Laura Brown, Connie Crothers and Daniel Moore, who travelled from the north to compete. In fourth was local school St Patrick’s NS, with Darragh Byrne, Leah Heffernan,Toby Durham and Niamh Flinter on the team.
The Killashee Primary School team of Joshua Hickey, Lottie Ross, Jodie Zebedee and Helen Hanley finished fifth.
Alanagh Perrin and Poppy won the primary individual class, beating Moira representative Connie Crother (second), Sarah Moore (third) and Daniel Moore (fourth). Fifth place went to Niamh Flinter and sixth to Lotti Ross.
OPEN TEAM
The open team league final took place in the Hornbeam arena, where spectators witnessed a great jump-off between Colaiste Bhride Carnew and Good Counsel College for first and second. Carnew won out and their points and a half tally gained as a result were enough to claim the league win for them ahead of Good Counsel in second.
Although Newbridge did not feature in the jump-off, their league score was enough to claim third place in the league ahead of Our Lady of Lourdes in fourth. Third place on the day went to the combined team from Gealcholaiste Ceatharlach/Borris VC, while in fourth place was Gorey Community School.
Travelling from Oranmore in Co Galway, the team from Calasanctius College finished fifth ahead of Mercy Secondary Ballymahon in sixth.
Sponsors David Geogheghan from Equestrian World Maynooth and Laurence Dunne from Jumpinaction were on hand to present the prizes.
The best turned out prize, sponsored by TRI Equestrian, went to Newbridge College, who consistently won the turn out prize throughout the series.
The open individual league was a very tight affair and Abby Boland from Our Lady of Lourdes pulled out all the stops to win the open individual final. She was one of only six that qualified for the jump-off round and produced the fastest clear to take the win. Second fastest was Christopher Whyte, ahead of Karen Casey (third), Meadbh Brassil (fourth), Laura Finnerty (fifth) and Sarah Behan (sixth).
When the points and a half on offer were taken into account, Boland gained a one point margin over league leader Meadhbh Brassil from Newbridge College to win the individual league. Third place in the league went to Newbridge’s Karen Casey, ahead of King’s Hospital’s Poppy Connelly-Carew in fourth, Mountrath Community School rider Julie Keeley in fifth and Newbridge’s Sarah Behan in sixth.
The last class of the day was the eagerly anticipated HSI Premier 1.10m final. This produced some great riding and finishing best on the day was Oisin Aylward from Good Counsel riding Coppenagh Oliver Twist, just ahead of Cathal Duffy with Ballyeagle Boy. Duffy was representing Calasanctius College.
Newbridge College representative Meadhbh Brassil with St James Gate was third, with Aoife Kavanagh and Slieves Boy in fourth, Ellen Forster on Veronicas Boy in fifth and James Kenny riding Passauf in sixth.