Knocknamana Country Riding Club are heading to the RDS for the first time in the history of the club!! Earls Well Riding Club hosted the South West Region AIRC RDS Qualifier in Maryville on Sunday 4th May, kindly sponsored by Premier Performance in glorious sunshine. With 5 teams representing 4 clubs in the Region, Highland Lodge having two teams, it was sure to be a very hot competition.
After the 90cm and 100cm combinations jumped in their first round, nothing separated them, with all teams finishing on zero. A few poles rolled in the second round but four teams, Highland Lodge White Maria Blomen (Belle Epona), Mollie O Connell (Scottie) and Roz Briggs (Coevers Emperor), Lismore team of Jennifer Maher (Cocktail Time), Robyn Jenkinson Butler (Limestone Lady Gaga), Alex Butler (Ringsfort Rubys Cruise) and John Fenton (Omeara Star), Earls Well team Maureen O Brien (Gtown Casper), Kate O Shea (Send Me On), Aidan O Donovan (AOD Zeus) and Fiona Fitton (I.F.E.S Limited Edition) and Knocknamana Country Meghan Healy (Valiant Dancer), Paulina Rudzinska (Gloutaun Trend), Ciara Hackett (Kilybeg Trend) and Caroline Marwood (Tomgar Infusion) all managed to finish on zero ensuring a very exciting jump off.
Roz Briggs Highland Lodge White team was first to jump and had an unfortunate two poles down in a time of 46.53. Lismores Captain John Fenton set off at a blistering pace but rolled one in a time of 36.66 to take up the lead. Earl’s Well Captain Fiona Fitton tried to beat this target but unfortunately had three down in a time of 39.52, paving the way for Caroline Marwood and Tomgar Infusion for Knocknamana Country to have a clear round in a time of 55.86 to win that golden ticket and make history for the club. Limore Riding Club finished second and will get another chance at the Wild Card Qualifier at the AIRC Riding Club Festival in Mullingar in June. Highland Lodge White team came 3rd, Earls Well team 4th, and Highland Lodge Blue team came 5th.
Written by: Kay and Fiona Nolan
