South Leinster Clubs turned up to Boswell Equestrian on 16 May to do battle in their Qualifier for the Premier Performance RDS Team Show Jumping Championships.
While the Premier Performance RDS Qualifier may have lacked quantity in the number of teams (5), this was more than made up for by the quality of the jumping. First into the arena to tackle David Byrne’s track were the Hollybrook Team with their first line 90 cm rider setting the standard with a clear. The Carrickmines Red Team then produced two clears from their 90cms riders while the Hollybrook 2nd line rider dropped just one pole.
The course was raised for the metre riders and here both Hollybrook members left all the poles in their cups, while the two Carrickmines members had unlucky faults. This left them on a first round total of 4, while Hollybrook, with their 3 clears, were in the lead going into the second round. They coped well with the pressure, helped by the enthusiasm shown by their supporters as each person jumped. The result was in no doubt when their first three riders produced clears. Three of the Carrickmines riders also left all the poles up, finishing this round on zero. But the Hollybrook team of Emily Lyons-Duggan, Roisin McMackin, Aoife Madigan and Laura Mahony, finishing on zero penalties, took the honours and are now on their way to the RDS, while the Carrickmines team of Paddy Fitzpatrick, Ruby O’Brien, Aigul Campbell and Sophie Dooley head to the Riding Club Festival to have another shot at winning the Wild Card Qualifier (which they did in 2025).
Written by – South Leinster Region
