A team representing the Association of Irish Riding Clubs from the Benbulben club won the Superflex 110 Team Show Jumping at the NAF Five Star British Riding Clubs National Championships in Lincolnshire on Saturday.
The team of Louise O’Hara (Dooraveragh Claire), Breda Perrin (Erronagh Sky), Fiona Tansey (Talbots Lass) and Rebekah Tansey (First Instinct) finished on 4 faults after the two rounds to claim the title for the second time in the Associations’ history, after Greenhills won the title back in 2010.
The all-female quartet put in a remarkable performance to finish on their opening round total of 4 faults after all four riders returned with clear rounds.
Area 2 were five faults adrift on 9 to take the runners-p spot while last years champions, Solihull Riding Club had to settle for third place on this occasion on a tally of 12.
Team Chef Shauna Wilson said, “Each team member was on top form with their preparation and training rewarded. I can’t think of four more determined, hard-working and dedicated girls and their experience and knowledge showed throughout the competition. This win is down to team work and the fact that we are all very close friends which shows that comradery is what Riding Clubs are all about.”
Meanwhile Louise O’Hara and Rebekah Tansey both qualified for the individual final along with six others where O’Hara finished best of the Irish in third place after Doonaveragh Claire was among the clear rounds but her time of 41.61 gave her a podium finish. Tansey had to settle for fifth place after First Instinct was the fastest of the four faulters.
O’Hara said afterwards, “I’m really thrilled with how the mare jumped as she was super all day. It rained very heavily between the second and the third round so my priority was to get around without slipping and hopefully go clear. it wasn’t a particularly fast round but she didn’t slip and the plan paid off.”
Ashley Daniel, who won two open jumping competitions at the Riding Clubs Festival last year, claimed the individual title after Abba posted a super fast clear round in 33.98 for the East Cheshire Combined Training Group.
