THE strength of interschools show jumping was very evident in Barnadown on Sunday, October 16th with 60 teams competing in the open, novice and primary competitions. Coláiste Bhríde, Carnew was delighted to host this leg of the Equestrian Interchools league.

Throughout the day, the three show jumping arenas were action packed. The open teams jump-off track required precision, a few short cuts and a gallop to the last. The East Glendalough School team of Rosie Coad and Anna Morrissey, who jumped off, could not be beaten when they finished on zero faults in a time of 84.88 seconds.

Second place went to Cici Murray and Tom Nestor who stopped the clock on a speedy 76.33 seconds but had an unfortunate four faults. They were joined by Launa McCann and Bonnie O’Neill on the Newbridge White Team. Gorey Community School finished on 12 faults in 89.35 seconds which put them into third place. The team comprised of Naomi Doyle, Holly Spencer, Lauren Spencer and Angelica McGee.

Huge entries

The novice teams had a massive entry with 27 teams in the competition. Loreto Wexford Red took first place with no jumping penalties in a time of 70.13 seconds. Team members were Sarah Cousins, Ava Murphy, Ashley Durack and Leah Murphy.

Second place went to Newbridge College in a time of 72.14 seconds and zero faults. East Glendalough earned third place. Team members were Joseph Morrissey, Charlotte Smith and Holly Smith. They also had no jumping faults and their finishing time was 74.32 seconds.

The primary competition saw 18 teams start. First place went to Scoil Aodán Naofa Carnew who finished on zero faults in a time of 61.44 seconds. Team members were Ellie May Fortune, Erin Mair Davies, Niamh Wafer and Emily Wafer. The second place rosette went to Bennettsbridge National School team who had a finishing time of 64.46 without faults. The team comprised Taylor O’Neill, Lucy Fitzgerald, Ava O’Neill and Lily Dooley.

Kilmore National School earned third place. Team members were Maisy Mooney, Donnacha Cousins and Poppy Purcell and their finishing time was 68.39 seconds, again with no faults.

The winner in the 65-75cm class was Martina Bolton who jumped for Donard National School. In the 80cm class Robyn Pendergast took the first rosette jumping for Castletown National School.

Victory in the 90cm individual qualifier went to Niamh Tobin, representing Tullow Community School, who scorched around the jump-off in 32.81 seconds. In second place, with just one second between, them was Eva O’Grady, St. Mary’s College Arklow. Louise Nolan, representing Tullow Community School, finished on a time of 34.57 seconds after a flawless jump off.

Decisive win

The 1m TRI Equestrian league competition was decisively won by Bonnie O’Neill who represented Newbridge College. Her finishing time was 29.10 seconds. Second place went to Johnnie Sheppard from Coláiste Bhríde, who had held pole position until Bonnie, the last rider in the competition, entered the ring. Lucy Rattigan from Gael Coláiste na Marra was placed third in a time of 36 seconds.

The 1.10m individual qualifier demonstrated talented jumping and determination. First place went to Coco Bell Manning, clear in a time of 38.32 seconds. In second was Jessica Murphy, finishing in 44.22 seconds. Holly Spencer took third place, clocking 48.23. Fourth, fifth and sixth went to Kate Cullen (Presentation College Wexford), Lauren Spencer (Gorey Community School) and Sophie Wilson (Coláiste Bhríde Carnew), respectively.

Coláiste Brhíde thanked all sponsors for their support, as well as Barnadown and Equestrian Interschools Ireland for their support.