The AIRC West regional qualifier for the Foran Equine sponsored 70/80 Team Showjumping Championship took place at Necarne Castle on Sunday. The already idyllic setting was further enhanced by a truly magnificent day, as a warm breeze kept competitors from overheating in the unaccustomed sunshine. Course builder Stephen Greene designed a flowing course that made full use of the spacious walled-garden, and judges Bruce Vial and Marie Fallon O’Kane watched with eagle eyes as the seven teams battled it out below them.
At the halfway point Stracomer riding club’s Team Two were the only team with zero faults on the board, but Letterkenny was snapping at their heels on just four faults while both the Donegal Gaeltachts and Stracomer Team One were still in the running with eight faults apiece. Following a leisurely lunch break that allowed horses and riders to recover their energy, the action resumed and the final battle commenced. With Letterkenny recording zero faults in round two, the pressure was on Stracomer Team Two captain, Louise Burke, to stay clear if her team was to clinch the win. Spectators lined the sides of the arena as Burke, the final competitor of the day, entered the ring and produced not only a clear round but the fastest round of the day to assure her team of a day out in Mullingar in July. The Donegal Gaeltacht riding club took third behind Letterkenny, with Tir Conaill Team One, Stracomer Team One and Inishowen taking up the minor placings.
The day was a huge success, made all the more impressive by the fact that the first of the West regional dressage qualifiers was taking place at the same time, with many competitors taking part in both competitions. The five Donegal based riding clubs combined efforts to organise and steward the day, with careful scheduling allowing competitors ample time to recover from one competition and prepare for their next. Necarne Castle proved an ideal venue for the day, with multiple arenas, parking, stabling and accommodation for anyone wishing to stay overnight. Letterkenny riding club would like to sincerely thank their neighbouring clubs for all their help in running a most enjoyable day.
Written by: West Region
Photo Credit: Kyra Griffin Photography
