Audrey O’Dwyer won the TRI Equestrian intermediate show jumping division at the AIRC Riding Clubs Festival last weekend at the second time of asking on Molly Croft.
Just over half of the 80 starters made it through to the jump-off round where 31 riders managed to jump a double clear round.
The Winterdown rider, however, proved unbeatable after her 10-year-old ISH bay mare crossed the finish line in a time of 27.38. It was a close contest, however, as Pamela Moffett stopped the clock on 27.93 on her 8-year-old Connemara cream mare, Golden Bready. Fergal Grannell completed the podium with Whitethorn Lane for Ballycanew on 28.72.
Audrey O’Dwyer said after her win, “I am beyond delighted to have won as It has been my ultimate aim to win it before I upgrade to the next level. I have been working towards it all year, but as we all know that alone doesn’t guarantee a red ribbon! It was a super festival and so well run, I was thrilled to be one of the lucky winners on the day.”
Carole Fagan missed out on a win the intermediate power and speed class after leading the competition from the start. The Mullingar rider registered a time of 38.21 on her 10-year-old bay gelding, Royal George but this was eventually surpassed by Rachel Burke on Rookery Blue as the Benbulben rider stopped the clock on 37.22 to take the spoils.
Over half of the 60 riders in the TRI Equestrian advanced primary contest made it through to the jump-off round for the optimum time where Laura Finnegan topped the bill.
The Border Counties rider was just 0.35 seconds off the target to claim the red rosette on her 17-year-old chestnut gelding, Greenacres Buddy L’Rue.
Therese Anderson was next best of the 14 double clears to claim the runners-up spot. The Benbulben riders time of 39.53, left her 0.47 off the target on Killian Boy.
The Border Counties club continued its run of good fortune in the TRI Equestrian primary class where Sarah Lester claimed the spoils on Langarth Donna.
The Monaghan based rider was best of the 9 riders who jumped a double clear as her time of 41 seconds left her just 1 second off the target. Castle Hill’s Sarah Malone claimed the runners-up spot on Jinx GC who was just 0.12 off the winner.
Benbulben’s Finola Murphy (Pot O Honey) and Donegal Gaeltacht’s Lawrence Smyth (Jenny’s Jigsaw) ran out victors in the TRI Equestrian advanced primary accumulator as they were the only pair to finish with a clean sheet.
AIRC vice president Marie Crosse had a run of good fortune in the TRI Equestrian open and advanced open section over the weekend. The Three Counties member claimed the top spot in the table a speed competition after St Helen left all of the fences intact in a time of 67.74.
Crosse took the runners- up spot in the two-phase competition where she jumped one of six double clear rounds. Her time of 32.12 left the Three Counties rider almost a second adrift of Cassandra McGee who crossed the line with a quicker time of 31.14 to win the division for Donegal Gaeltacht.
Aileen McDermott won the TRI Equestrian open and advanced open power and speed class on Amber Balou. The Ross House riders time of 37.10 gave her a considerable advantage over second-placed Pat Sheahan on LVS Buzz Lightyear with a time of 39.95.
Sheena Kerr Mc Nally finished fastest of the 23 riders who kept clean sheets in the TRI Equestrian advanced intermediate competition. The Castle Leslie rider crossed the line in a time of 31.02 on Pegasus to claim the win where 27 riders made it through to the jump-off.
Kate Anderson had a narrow win in the table a speed class on Killian Boy. Less than a second separated the top three places as the Benbulben riders time of 57.82 kept her above Jennifer Denny (Wild Domaine) for Mill Road.
Meanwhile, in the power and speed class, Pamela Jackman claimed the honours as her 9-year-old gelding, Sir Lance was the only horse to go under 42 seconds with a time of 41.14.
Anna Burke claimed the top two places in the seniors show jumping class. The Benbulben rider took the red rosette on Rookery Blue with Rookery Apache taking the runners-up spot. Elsewhere in the young horse class, Tom Whyte had a bloodless win for Mosstown as the 5-year-old, Ardagh Dun N Dusted, recorded the only clear round of the competition.
(Image: Jumpinaction.net)
