Earls Well Riding Club won The Irish Field Musical Ride for the fourth year in succession at the recent AIRC Riding Clubs Festival at Mullingar Equestrian Centre, Co. Westmeath.

Spectators gathered around the International Grass arena on Saturday evening where two clubs contested the competition in front of judges, Liam Maloney and Alison Packman from Eventing Ireland.

The Cork-based club performed ‘The Greatest Showman’ and came out on top with a winning score of 79.23% for their interpretation of the 2017 film which celebrated the birth of show business.

Newpark Riding Club took the blue ribbons for second place for their abbaesque performance which attracted a score of 74.62%.

The winning team included Aimee Garrett (Dear Darlin), Jennifer Perry (CW Monty), Margaret O’ Shea (Castlewhite Rosie), Maria Greenway (Megan’s Moment), Ruth Mc Garrigle (Rogue Trader) and Victoria Costelloe (CW Midnight Dancer)

Kay Fitton, who was the coordinator of the winning teams performance, said,

throughout the year we keep an ear to the ground for new songs or musicals that we think might make a good theme. There is usually a scramble to get members to take part just before the entries close but all we ask is that they commit to 5 training sessions. When we decide on the theme, someone takes on the role of costume and music and then we just try and perfect our display.

“Its actually great fun and it would be super to see a few more clubs enter this in the future,” she added.