TRI Equestrian Interschools Mullingar EC \ Helen O’Neill

A FULL range of classes were on offer at the latest TRI Equestrian Interschools event held at Mullingar Equestrian Centre last Sunday.

While rain and wind attempted to disrupt proceedings, the weather did not dampen spirits and schools from afar and local were well represented.

A number of schools from Co Longford attended and it was the team from Moyne Community School, Longford who claimed the TRI Equestrian Open team event, with all riders jumping clear. Miami (Charlotte Doyle), Johnny (Katie McGrath), Flash (John Miney) and Shadow (Rachel McGrath) made up the team.

Second place also went to Longford. This time it was Mean Scoil Muire’s team of Rose na Ri (Laura Finnegan), Derrartha Thomas (Olivia Johnston), Sleehaun Magic (Jean Kenny), West House Spenser (Rosie Flanagan) with current league leaders, Gorey Community School in third. The team was Parc na Ruairc (Naoise Doyle), Mischa B (Holly Spencer), Kyle Lad (Lauren Spencer), Abbeybrook Aurora (Angelica McGee). St Josephs, Scoil Mhuire, Trim, St. Joseph’s Rochfortbridge and Mercy Ballymahon gained the remaining league points.

Co Longford also claimed the TRI Equestrian Open Individual class with a win for Mercy Secondary School, Ballymahon’s Emily O’Neill on Zothen’s Nobel. The runner-up spot was claimed by Emily Crawford riding LGS Safari for Wesley College and Katie McGrath this time partnering Robyn for Moyne CS. Karen Greene, Mark Neilan and John Miney gained the remaining league points.

The HSI 110cm premier class attracted a number of entries and Alanna Fagan made all on Elsa for Loreto College Mullingar to claim first place ahead of Scoil Ruain VS, Killenaule’s Tamara Perry on Hilton DC (Tamara Perry) and Mark Neilan and Flash Molly for Presentation College, Athenry. Emily Crawford, Emily O’Neill and Karen Greene took the remaining qualifying spots.

O’Neill clinches it

The Equieire EII 90cm Novice class was one of the biggest classes of the day. Newbridge College representative Bonny O’Neill riding Golden Copper posted the fastest time to be victorious ahead of New Ross’s Eva O’Grady on Cullane Biscuit and Tom O’Rourke and Killglass Jimmy from Colaiste Choilm Tullamore. Sarah Boyce Donohue, Aimee Byrne and Daisy Jane Rodgers claimed the remaining qualifying places

The EII Primary Individual league class was well supported and the aptly named, for the day that was in it, Sparkles in the Rain and Claudia O’Neill representing St Anne’s NS Tyrrellspass, won this class with Ginger Rogers and Jack Derwin for Coosan NS in second and Ella Finnegan from St Teresa’s Killoe, Co Longford riding Moorefield’s Maverick in third. Susannah Tottenham was fourth and fifth and Ruby Cullen Kavanagh was sixth.

The EII novice teams league class attracted 17 team entries. Our Lady’s Bower Athlone’s Tulira Fudge (Amelie Henson), Oatfield Whats Up (Daisy-Jane Rodgers), Ferguson (Christina Whittaker), and Slieverushen Oscar (Chloe Fenton) put on a fine display to claim first place ahead of Newbridge College. Newbridge was represented by Bobby Jo (Claire Nestor), Black Jack (Ellen O’Neill), Christopher Columbus (Ellen Mooney) and Saltre Imperial Commander (Mai Monaghan). The St Peter Dunboyne team of Inchydoney (Kiley Knapp), San Francisco (Georgia Knapp), Changing Course (Sadhbh Finlay), Redgap Mac (Marina Connolly) were third with Presentation Killina, Our Lady’s Bower’s other team and Presentation Athenry in fourth, fifth and sixth. The final league point went to Moyne CS.

The combined team from Kildare ET and St. Patrick’s NS won the Primary teams ahead of the mixed Longford team. There was also a full range of Individual classes from 40cm up to 90cm adding to the action-packed day.

The next Interschools event is tomorrow (Sunday) at Barnadown with Colaiste Bhride Carnew as hosts.