Benbulben Riding Club hosts the 2025 Premier Performance AIRC RDS Team Championship Qualifiers this year for the Western Region. A beautiful sunny day graced the grounds of Tubberbride Stables to welcome all 17 teams that were set to compete for the much-coveted 1st place victory and that golden ticket to the RDS Dublin Horse show for the Team Championship final in August. With 9 clubs from across the large West Region of AIRC being represented in total, the day kicked off with the first team in the ring at 10am, starting with a Tynagh Riding Club team, and they certainly set the standard for the day with their first rider providing an effortless clear round. For the majority of the first round it was clear, after clear, after clear, which left the results after the first rounds at 7 teams finishing on a score of 0 ahead of their second rounds = meaning it was still all to play for! Riders gave their all, over a brilliant yet challenging course set by the experienced and talented Richard Kerins. The atmosphere was electric!
Riders who had clears in their first rounds were having poles in their second rounds, and vice-versa. You could see the pressure mounting on their faces as they entered the arena for the second and final time of the day, as they knew the end goal was almost within reach for their teams. As it came down to the wire and the last rider finished, we had a score of x3 teams on 0 = meaning we had a jump-of on our hands! Head judge on the day, Noeleen Kerins, announced this with excitement in her voice as she and everyone around knew it would be a sensation to watch. These three fabulous teams were from Benbulben Riding Club; Benbulben Team Yellow, Nephin Riding Club; Nephin Blue Team and Benbulben Riding Club; Benbulben Team Red, who were through to the jump off as all these teams finished on a fantastic achievement team score of 0. First into the ring for the jump-off was Benbulben Team Yellow, represented by their captain Fiona Tansey, riding her mare Talbots Lass. Fiona gave an incredible performance with a super clear round and a brilliant time of 34.54, really setting the stage and standard for the next riders to follow.
Nephin Blue Team was next to go, represented by their captain Brian Weir, riding Corroy Candy. Brian and his gelding were ready and they did not hold back which certainly paid off as they came in with a cracking clear round putting them into the lead with a time of 32.44. Benbulben Team Red were next and last to go in this high-atmosphere jump-off for the dream of that RDS golden ticket. Captain Vanessa Sweeney, riding her beautiful mare Woodbank Clover, entered the ring and you could feel they meant business. Giving it everything they had, they went
for it, getting the most incredible turns that made the whole crowd gasp. Watching this pair had everyone silent as Vanessa shaved seconds off the time only to have one unfortunate pole on the floor… Vanessa got the fastest time of the day with an unbelievable 27.95, but with a score of 4 faults the fate was sealed for the Nephin Blue Team who were already on their feet celebrating in the crowds, realising that their dreams had just become a reality and they were off to the RDS Dublin Horse show with their golden ticket representing the West!
It was a phenomenal day of competition, demonstrating the excellent standard of horsemanship, riders skills and camaraderie that we have in the West Region of AIRC. Comments on the day of the brilliant but challenging course set by Richard Kerins were true and yet a testament to all the clear rounds and successful show jumping that we were treated to on the day. It was a truly fantastic day and we would like to thank everyone involved, particularly the Kerins family.
We would like to wish the absolute best of luck to Nephin Riding Club, Nephin Blue Team, who are representing the Western Region of AIRC at the RDS Dublin Horse show this year for 2025. And also the very best of luck to Benbulben Riding Club; Benbulben Team Yellow, who have secured themselves a place in the wildcard play-offs at the Riding Club Festival in Mullingar next month. (Fingers crossed we will have 2 teams representing the West at the RDS this year!)
Written by: Rachel Burke
Photo Credit: Rachel Burke
