Shauna Kidd went on to win the Equipeople RC 100 Championship where just three riders out of the 16 starters completed the day on their dressage score at the Equipeople sponsored AIRC National Eventing Championships at Killossery Lodge in Dublin last Sunday.
It was a special win for the Ashbrook member who finished on 29.3 penalties on her 7-year-old brown ISH mare, Killossery Khaleesi, who was bred by Frank Glynn.
Margaret McMullin moved up five places on the leaderboard after her 9-year-old ISH grey gelding, Ballinteskin Rebel, finished on 33.6 penalties to take the blue ribbon for Greenvalley.
Shauna Kidd said, “I was a late entry as the horse had injured her hock and I needed to get the ok from the vet. It was a personal achievement to have led from start to finish. My horse was bred by the Glynn’s so of course it’s nice to have won where the mare came from.”
Sheena Boran landed the Equipeople RC 110 and RC 120 title after she was the only competitor to clear the cross-country course on her 17-year-old grey Connemara gelding, Blackwoodland Silver Birch. The Calliaghstown member picked 4 penalties over the coloured poles to finish on 42.7 penalties.
Aoife Maguire had to settle for second place after the Killossery rider added 24 penalties to her dressage score of 30.5 to finish on 54.5 Pharos Hazy Cove.
Boran said afterwards, “we’ve been on many adventures at this stage with plenty of highlights. He loves to jump and is always very enthusiastic. I believe at any level, you need training and eyes on the ground, support and encouragement. When you’re riding, every day is a learning day and routine, patience, and love is the key to success.”
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35 riders contested the Equipeople RC 80 Championship where Holly Conte came out on top with less than a penalty to spare on VHC Howitzer. The Warrington tied for first place on 28.5 after dressage but went on to win the spoils after her 6-year-old ISH black mare gave two foot-perfect performances to leave nothing to add.
Sinead Codd was level after dressage on IHWT Hero but dropped out of contention after the Treegrove rider encountered problems in the show jumping.
Donna Murray (Kiko Temple) and Mary Sheridan (Cavalier Echo) were level on 29.3 leaving the clock to decide. Murray got the nod for second place after the Dalysgrove rider was closest to the cross-country optimum time.
Conte said afterwards, “In the last couple of months she has gotten so much stronger and her jumping on Sunday was the best it has ever been. She jumped a fantastic clear round in the show jumping and during the cross-country she was always looking for the next fence, it was such a good feeling. I’m so proud of her.”
Seven of the 24 starters in the Equipeople RC 80 Championship completed the day on their dressage score where Sandra Dalton made the journey worthwhile after the Horetown rider landed the spoils riding the 18-year-old bay gelding, Strattonstown Banjo.
The New Ross residents winning dressage score of 20.5 gave her a narrow victory over Helen McLoughlin on Battenburg (22.3) for the Leitrim club and Foxborough’s Louise Lynn in third place on Paulank Easter Bunny (22.6).
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Jennifer Burke took first and third place in the Equipeople Young Horse competition. The Benbulben rider claimed the top spot on Barbaras Dancer. The 4-year-old ISH chestnut mare put in a solid performance to finish on 29.8 with nothing to add from the jumping phases.
Burke was delighted with the win and said, “she’s a very exciting horse for the future and I am delighted with her performance. She delivered a promising dressage and was clear jumping.”
Burke picked up the yellow ribbon on Tymphanys Last Song (54.0) behind Mosstown’s Edel Whyte who had to settle for the runners-up spot for the second year in a row, this time on Sleehaun Master Mind on 35.3.
Elsewhere in the Equipeople RC 70 Combined Training, Wendy Murphy from Coole Lane led from start to finish to claim the honours after her 18-year-old skewbald mare, Dee Girl, had one pole down in the show jumping to finish on 26.7.
Caoimhne McGrane on Castlerea Silver took the runners-up spot after the Ard Lu member jumped the only clear round in the jumping to finish on 32.7 penalties.
