Waterford ODE

Hoofprints off to Sunny Start

Competitors basked in the sunshine at the first leg of the 2010 Hoofprints Horse Trials League hosted by Waterford RC at Ballinaclough on Sunday.

With nearly 150 entries, turnout was large and competition was high. Five dressage arenas were in operation from early morning; however dressage was not the main deciding factor of the day. Scores were ever changing as some fell foul to the show jumping and cross country. Noel Phelan and Joe Murphy built show jumping tracks that were negotiable with a few questions asked. The cross country was not as straight forward as first thought. Some competitors got caught out at fences whilst others went a little astray.

Eight competitors contested the open, with Waterford’s own Edward Widger first out on track. However, it was not enough and fellow club member Leanne Foskin on Stonehaven’s Billie took the title with an end score of 36.0 from Edward in second on 44.0. The Hoofprints League is open to competitors from outside the region and the advanced intermediate class was won by outsider Catherine Killeen and Tanino de Peramancia from Millroad on 30.5. Three Rocks Ger Kelly and Kingsford Copper were a close second only one point behind on 31.5.

The green horse class had a significant number of entries and scores were tight. Only eight points separated the top six. Nicki Colley made it another win for Waterford on Stonehaven’s Brandon with a score of 27.5. Christa George and Nothing Concluded finished second on 31.0. As there were a large number of entries the intermediate class was divided. Section A went to Perly Doyle from Ballycanew on the ever reliable Shanco Lad in a score of 34.5. The B section was won by Lisa Mulhall from Barrow Valley on an identical score of 34.5. Clonmel’s Breda Costigan and Stephanie Hearne took second in the sections. The advanced primary class was also divided. Thomastown and Districts Carmel Murphy and Glenbrook Colleen secured Section A with a score of 28.9 from Karen Blakely and Rover from Belline on 29.3. Section B was won by Susan Black from Ashwood on Roundpark Dorothy on an impressive score of 25.8. Second was Carne’s Jenny Burrell and Babbling Brook on 31.1.

Action moves to Broomfield RC at Broomfield Equestrian Centre on Saturday 26^th for the second leg. Following on from that then is Three Rocks RC at Monart Equestrian Centre on July 4^th, which is also a qualifier for the TRI National Horse Trials.