THREE well-supported arenas were in action at Kildare’s Coilog Equestrian for the TRI Equestrian Interschools Ireland show held last weekend, hosted by Newbridge College.

The Hornbeam arena was devoted to the TRI Equestrian open events and the HSI 1.10cm qualifier, while the Lime Arena was the domain of the EII novice teams, the Equieire EII 90 qualifier and the novice individuals’ event. In the indoor, the Primary class riders showed their class in the primary teams and individual events.

The TRI Equestrian open team event ended in a jump-off between five of the 10 teams that had lined out. Posting the fastest time to claim the win and 10 points in the league, the team from Carnew saw off rivals Gorey Community School who took second.

Only seconds separated the two teams. Carnew was represented by Cian Byrne (Carra Care Boy), Hannah O’Neill (Drummin Pretty Lady), Chloe Walsh (Althorp) and Sarah Shepard (Galtee Shadow) while Naoimi Doyle (Pairc Na Ruarc), Jessica Murphy (Ashwood Reggie), Ciara O’Connor (Billy) and Angelica McGee (Abby Brook Aurore) lined out for Gorey.

The Newbridge College black team members, Eva O’Neill (Lisrua Heidi), Sophie O’Neill (Ramor Mirah), Annie O’Neill (Castlestrange Misty Boy) and Jamie Hargadon (Bruno) claimed third place ahead of Wesley in fourth with the team from Borris Vocational School in fifth. Newbridge College also took sixth place as fastest of the four-faulters after the qualifying rounds.

Competitive

The TRI Equestrian open individual class was very well supported with over 30 competitors taking part. Fastest of these was Jessica Murphy (Ashwood Reggie) for Gorey Community School with Cian Byrne (Darcy de Chanteloube) of Coláiste Bride Carnew in second and Byrne again in third, this time riding Cara Cave Boy. Anna Morrisey (Laetitia Fox) and Hannah O’Neill claimed fourth, fifth and sixth place. Since Byrne doubled up in the line-out, the final league point went the way of Grace Berry from Wesley College in seventh.

The HSI 110cm class saw 20 competitors go to the post. The pole position was claimed by Ciara O’Connor of Gorey Community School (Gleann Princess) ahead of Rosie, ridden by Anna White for Newbridge College in second and Boularee, ridden by Cian Byrne, Coláiste Bhríde Carnew in third. The remaining places on the day went the way of Gerry, ridden by Patrick Doyle for Borris Vocational School, (Cian Byrne), Hunters Lodge Puissance for Coláiste Bhríde Carnew and Caoimhe Keegan (Rookery Amber) for Mount Sackville.

Since three of the first to six lined up were already qualified, Jessica Murphy (Darcy de Chanteloube) of Gorey Community School, Ciara O’Connor (Dempsey) of Gorey Community School and Chloe Walsh riding Althorpe for Colaiste Bride, Carnew, qualified.

Win for Newbridge College

Host school Newbridge College was victorious in the EII Novice team event. Newbridge was represented by Mia Browne (Basil Brush), Bonnie O’Neill (Blackjack), Mai Monaghan (Saltre Imperial Commander) and Anna Nangle (Blackwoodland Breeze).

Second place went to the Loreto Secondary School Wexford team members, Lily Mai Berry (Skylanna Scatman), Kate Walsh (Rathmanna), Jessie Murphy (Phoebe) and Ashley Durack (Carraghmore Sparrow), while third place was claimed by Tullow Community School’s Niamh Tobin (Hershey’s Kiss), Caitlin Byrne (Knockdown Ba Murphy), Caoimhen Curran (Ballynamurragh), Brook O’Donoghue (Paris Girl). St Mary’s College, Naas, Kilkenny College and St Gerard’s Bray were fourth, fifth and sixth.

The best turned out prize was awarded to the very smart Rockwell College team. Sixteen teams lined out for this class.

Holly does it again

The warm-up 80cm class followed and for the second week running went the way of Holly Gee riding Coolodge Maeve, representing Loretto Kilkenny, ahead of Lucy McCarthy (Clio) for Scoil Bhride Kill in second and Blackhill Border Fox, ridden by Arabella Whelehan from St Gerard’s Bray, in third.

Qualifying places

The final class in this ring was the Equieire EII 90cm qualifier. The qualifying slots went to Four Milk Boy ridden by Sarah Boyce-Donohoe for Rathangan Secondary School, Ariana Durkan (Tagunnan Lad) riding for St Gerard’s Bray, Mia Browne (Basil Brush) representing Newbridge College, Blackwoodland Breeze and Anna Nangle also from Newbridge College, Hershey’s Kiss and Niamh Tobin for Tullow Community School and Creggan Belle, ridden by Evlyn Fahey, for Presentation Thurles. Some of these are already qualified while Creggan Belle, ridden by Evlyn Fahey for Presentation Thurles, also qualified.

Primary division

The Primary teams event was won in fine style by local schools Kildare Town Educate Together and St Brigid’s Kildare Town. The team of Moelyparc Gold Gift (Jamie Monahan), Brynrodyn Robbie (Evie Holohan), Daisy (Orla Cleary) and Golden Grove Maydream (Charlotte Kelly) and Scoil Diarmada Castledermot’s team of Pippy (Maya White), Dolly (Anna Curry), Belle (Oisin Phelan) and Molly (Eimear White) was second while Rathmore’s black team of Amigo (Georgia Queally), Hotspot (Gloria Queally), Ferret (Reuben McCann) and Nelson (Jack McCann) was third.

Wins for Kent and Kehoe

The Individual classes were divided between those jumping 75cm and those jumping 55cms. The 75cm class, which is an EII Primary individual qualifier, was won by Lucy Kent (Snoopy) for Realt na Mara National School, Dunmore East ahead of Emily McCarthy (Luna) for Scoil Bhride Paulstown in second. Shanbo Hazels Boy, ridden by Julie McDonald for Holy Cross Tramore, was third.

Meanwhile, Donard National School was ably represented by Georgia Kehoe riding Anorca Diamond (26) who won the 55cm class.

The action this weekend moves west to Ower Equestrian centre in Co Galway and to the south east to Wexford Equestrian where East Glendalough School will be the hosts.