Greenvalley Riding Club, who last qualified in 2011, will return to the final of the Horseware Team Show Jumping Championship after they won the South Leinster decider last Sunday.
13 teams representing 6 clubs took part in the qualifier at Boswell Equestrian where at the end of the first round, 5 teams had posted a zero score. They included Brooke Lodge, Greenvalley, Hollybrook and two teams from Clonough.
Fortunes changed, however, in the second round as 3 teams in the leading pack succumbed to nerves and dropped out of contention.
Brooke Lodge and Greenvalley were left to battle it out in a jump-off and first to go was the Brooke Lodge team captain. Everything was going to plan for Jade Morton until the second last fence which fell to the floor to give the Brooke Lodge club a total of 4 penalties in a quick time of 41.94.
Chloe Daly, the Greenvalley captain, opted for a steady, clear round on Bagheara and this strategy worked for the Rathdrum resident who left all fences intact but picked up 3-time penalties.
The Greenvalley team will progress to the final at the Dublin Horse Show in July while Brooke Lodge will contest next month’s Wild Card qualifier at the Riding Clubs Festival.
(Photo: Bernie Webb / Reid Networks)
