Final League Night

WATERFORD RISES AGAIN

by Helen O'Byrne

The Waterford Riding Club, one of the oldest riding clubs in the country, which has now amalgamated with Kilotteran riding club, held its first joint venture under the new regime, at Ballinamona Equestrian Centre recently with kind permission of Vahe Bogossian. The Show Jumping league which ran over the last 5 weeks on Thursday evenings was a huge success with more than 40 competitors taking part each evening.

 The best 3 nights were to count and this made for some very exciting jump offs on the final night. Initially the course designer Noel Phelan was kind to competitors but as the weeks progressed the courses got more and more difficult with all jumps up to maximum height on the last 2 nights.

The Primary section was slow to start, but when visitors arrived from Coolbell Club on the third night the competition took off. Ann Raher and Clonea Silver Spirit were rewarded for their journeys and took the Primary Section by a clear lead. Things were much busier in the Advanced Primary but Bunnie Blue Eyes ridden by Fionnuala Brennan from the host club took the honours here closely followed by Sarah Connors riding Woodfield Bing also from the host club and Joe Cullen riding B.B. from Belline Club. In the Intermediate Class Stonehaven Alannah ridden by Miriam Power led on full points from the first night and despite the efforts of 3 of her clubmates, (who were on equal points behind her) she could not be knocked from the podium. Then ensued a very exciting jump off for second place between Laura Barron riding Polly, Emma O’Shea riding Saddle Up Kasey and Helen O’Byrne riding Charleville Lad. Laura went for a foot perfect clear round on Polly in a time of 52 secs then Emma and Saddle up Kasey sped around the course in a time of 42secs but unfortunately a pole fell. Last to go was Helen on Charleville Lad. Knowing that Charleville lad (alias Murph) was never going to win on speed Helen decided to go for cunning instead and executing one very sharp turn managed to stop the clock at 47 seconds with all fences standing.

The Green Horse class was won by Dinan Clover ridden by Clare Nulty from Warrington followed by Clyde ridden by Leanne Foskin for Waterford and in third place was Kara Cullinane also from Waterford riding her own home bred Molly (Sire Courage).

Clare Nulty also took the honours in the Advanced Intermediate riding Cavalier Charisma but Jenny Kiely riding Sportsfield Pinky gave her a good run for her money in another exciting jump off. Third in that class was Leanne Foskin again,this time riding Stonehaven Billie. We were very excited to have a keenly contested  Open class and to have good numbers competing each week. The winner of this class was Nicki Colley riding her own Van Helsing in second place was Ciara Power riding Stonehaven Another Prince followed in third place by Patrice Marie ridden by Dearbhail Kennedy. Emma O’Shea of Saddle Up Equestrian Equipment very kindly sponsored a beautiful top of the range Lynn Russell Bentley grooming Kit as a prize for turnout of horse and rider and this was won by Aeromanta ridden by Stacey Griffen. Noel Phelan and Tony Power judged the turnout and commented on the high standard of all competitors.