AN enthusiastic Bridgetown College hosted the latest leg of the TRI Equestrian Interschools league last Sunday at Wexford Equestrian Centre. There was a great turnout particularly for the Novice classes and some great jumping rounds.

As well as show jumping there was a well-supported cake sale in aid of Autism Ireland, a very worthy cause. Paula Moriarty, a teacher in Bridgetown, a Top Spec representative, the sponsor on the day, and Principal Adrian Power were on hand to present the prizes.

The team jumping classes were held in the indoors and started with the Primary teams. The mixed team from Our lady’s Island/Tagoat of Blackie (Bethany Nolan), Phoebe (Aoife Murphy), Tricky and Stephen Dee (Faye Howlin) saw off all of the opposition to take the win.

In second was the Kilmore NS green team of Jimmy (Ciara Sarsfield), Annie (Rosie Scallan), James (Anna Sarsfield) and King (Ted Cousins) and the Kilrane NS team of Gerry (Ruth Stafford), Buffy (Hannah Hoffinheiz), Leo (Lucy Stafford) and Breolie Mist (Hazel Slattery) placed third.

The Novice teams’ competition followed and it was the team from host school Bridgetown College who claimed the red rosette and 10 points. The team was made up of Mollie (Sophie Whitehead), BBS Vogue (Noah Sinnott), and Star (Jack Brophy).

Gorey CS’s representatives Daisy Daisy (Amber Farrell), Mystic Magic (Lily Gallagher) and Epona (Tabatha McGee) were runners up with St. Peter’s Dunboyne team of Inchydoney (Lilly Knapp Mc Mahon), Red Gap Mac (Maria Connolly), Ardmount Nazca (Colleen Klinowska) and Changing Course (Sadbh Finlay) in third place. The remaining league points went to Borris VS, St Peter’s Wexford and Presentation Wexford.

The Coláiste Bhríde Carnew team of Lunasa Cruise (Sophie Wilson), Boularee (Cian Byrne), Drummin Pretty Lady (Hannah O Neill) and Galtee Shadow (Johnny Sheppard) won the TRI Equestrian open teams ahead of Gorey Community School who were represented by Mischa B (Holly Spencer), Kyle Lad (Lauren Spencer) and Abbeybrook Aurora (Angelica McGee). St. Mary’s New Ross finished third with Cash Advance (Martha Power), Juneipierre (Ava Donovan) and Ask Her Something (Katelyn Johnson).

Individuals

A full range of individual classes were held outdoors and the well supported Equieire EII qualifier was won by Cillian Crosbie riding Granite Kate, representing Newtown Waterford, ahead of Loreto Wexford rider Amy Griffith on Starlight Express in second place and Lily Gallagher from Gorey CS riding Mystic Magic in third. Ava Murphy (Loreto Wexford), Erin Kehoe (Borris VS) and Aoife Griffith (Loreto Wexford) were fourth, fifth and sixth.

The TRI Equestrian open individual class produced excellent competition between the competitors. The 10 points and winner’s rosette went to Cash Advance ridden by Martha Power for St. Mary’s New Ross, ahead of Sophie Wilson on Lunasa Cruise from Coláiste Bhríde in the runner-up position. Jessie Bates riding Guns for Hire from Ramsgrange CS finished third. The remaining league points went to Ava Donovan, Hannah O’Neill and Johnny Sheppard.

Sophie Wilson, again partnering Lunasa Cruise, went one better when she won the HSI 1.10m. Gorey CS’s Holly Spencer finished second with Mischa B ahead pf Mercy Kilbeggan’s Emily O’Neill in third with The Stig. Cian Byrne and Angelica McGee completed the line-up.

Hazel Slattery on Breolie Mist from Kilraine NS won the EII 70cm individual league class, with Our Lady’s Island rider Aoife Murphy on Phoebe in second and Claudia O’Neill on Sparkles in the rain from St. Annes in third. The remaining rosettes went to Ryan O’Neill, Fionnan Nolan and Mary Kate Kelly.

The fun 80cm class produced a winning round from Amy Turner on Smokey Sahara for Coláiste Bhríde. Ramsgrange CS rider Rebecca Colfer on Lots of Dots was second, and Conor Conway from Good Counsel College, riding Allegro, was third.

The 55cm class was claimed by Hannah Hoffheinz riding Buffy for Kilraine NS.

The action moves to the midlands this weekend with the team from Mullingar Equestrian hosting the event on Sunday.