Benbulben Riding Club took home the AIRC Team Show Jumping Championship final and won the title outright at the Dublin Horse Show last Sunday.
The competition came right down to the wire with the final competitor in the Simmonscourt arena, Mill Road’s team captain, Jennifer Denny needing a clear round to have a jump-off for the top spot but unfortunately ended up having a fence down, which put them into second place again this year on a score of 8. As rider Fran Denny said ‘Mill Road has second placeitis’
Benbulben riders Sarah Dunleavy riding Lecarrow Silver Shadow and Captain Vanessa Sweeney riding Woodbank Clover had 2 double clear rounds out of 5 double clear rounds on the day leaving the team on a score of 4.
Benbulben’s Team Captain Venessa O’Sullivan said on behalf of the club and team “We are absolutely thrilled to be the lucky winners of the AIRC Team Showjumping Championships for 2024. To get the opportunity to represent Benbulben in the RDS was a huge honour for us all; to get to lift the trophy at the end was like a dream come true! We are extremely grateful to so many people for making this a reality – to the AIRC for affording us with this amazing opportunity, our fellow clubs for their kindness and well wishes, to Horseware for their extremely generous sponsorship, our friends and family for years of unrelenting support, to our wonderful loyal steeds who have made it all possible, and finally but by no means last, to our wonderful club! The support shown to us by every member of the Benbulben Riding Club has been so heartwarming and means so much! We are so proud to be a part of such a wonderful organisation!”
Breda Perrin Chef d’Equipe for Benbulben added “We are thrilled with the result today. The team were excited for the opportunity to represent Benbulben Club again which have had many teams compete here at the Team Show Jumping Championships. Richard Kerins of Tubberbride Stables played a key role with our preparations and training sessions which really paid off. I was on the team in 2010 when we were placed 3rd so I was excited to be back as Chef d’equipe and to be a part of this winning team. Benbulben is one of the largest clubs in Ireland and enjoys wonderful support from all of our members who are delighted with this result! ”
Last year’s winners Carrickmines Riding Club had to settle for 4th place after a tough competition and just 2 points off 3rd placed Greenhills Riding Club. Leaving Tinahely Riding Club (22) with only 3 riders in 5th place and Headfort Riding Club (32) in 6th place.
Almost 90 teams sought qualification earlier in the year with the top nine teams going forward to the final where 11 fence track with 13 jumping efforts proved challenging with penalties spread throughout the course.
Mill Road where out in front after the first round on a score of 0, with only 6 clear rounds in the first round. There was too much ground for Cheval (48), Killcarrick (57) and North Cork (58) to make up as they finished outside the top six.
Headfort Riding Club won Best Turned Out in their matching attire.
Photo Credit: Horseware Ireland
L-R Back Row: Deirdre Dolan (Roscrib Harry),Sarah Dunleavy (Lecarrow Silver Shadow), Vanessa Sweeney (Woodbank Clover), Cara Conway (Cooley Are Cruising).
Front Row: Sonja Overmayer (Horseware Ireland), Breda Perrin (Benbulben Chef d’Equipe), Elaine Dunne (AIRC), Leo Powell (AIRC President)
