The Annual Riding Clubs Festival was held at Stradbally Hall Estate, Co. Laois on June 7th & 8th. A large volume of competitiors from the Western Region travelled to the festival with great success.
In the Irish Field Dressage arenas Donna Murray of Dalysgrove RC got the weekend off o a great start by winning Section 1 of the Advanced Primary Dressage on Lady Temple with a fantastic score of 79.21%, Donna also finished 5th in Section 3 riding Kiko Temple and was 4th in the Advanced Primary Final with Kiko Temple.
In the TRI Equestrian Show Jumping arenas a mixed team from the Western Region comprising of Darragh Ruane on The Guns of Dunree from Benbulben RC, Caroline Rushe on Galli from Dalysgrove RC, Lawrence Smyth on Jennys Jigsaw from Donegal Gaeltacht & Cathriona Goaley on Curra Whoopi from Springmount RC took second place.
In the Horseware Wildcard Team Show Jumping Championship Tynagh RC finished in 6th place with Aisling Daniels on Glen Ledgend, Raymond Daniels on Barnaboy Colin, Margaret Hynes on Barnaboy Colourcoded & Thomas Daniels on Barnaboy Jackeen.
In the Intermediate Individual Show Jumping Gavin Keenan on Ardgaineen Waltzer from Benbulben RC was 2nd, while Avril Burke on Rookery Apache, also from Benbulben RC was 3rd.
In the Advanced Intermediate Individual Show Jumping Donegal Gaeltacht took both 1st & 2nd with Emily Schneider on Raylady taking top spot and Patricia Warren on Hes a Dandy coming 2nd. Patricia also claimed 1st place in the Advanced Intermediate Power & Speed class with Hes a Dandy.
In the Open Power & Speed class another Donegal Gaeltacht rider was in the ribbons with Sally Mahon on Graf Landlord coming 6th, while in the Advanced Open Individual class Laura Schneider & Chloe Lass took 3rd spot for Donegal Gaeltacht.
In the final Show Jumping class on Saturday, the Vetern Riders Show Jumping Anna Burke from Benbulben RC finished 5th with Rookery Sparkle.
In the Horse Sport Ireand Showing rings Aisling Hughes from South Roscommon was 3rd in the Lightweight Hnter class with Full Set Fred.
In the Lightweight Cob class Catherine O’Sullivan on Paintwork Lad top the top spot, with Niamh Ruane & Dusky Moon from Round Tower RC in 4th and Shauna Freeney on Nic Nac from Springmount RC in 6th. Catherine also took the top spot in the Maxi Cobs class with Blue Jeans with whom she also won Reserve Champion Cob.
In the Rding Horse up to 158cm class Emma Lawrence & Benny Ace from Benbulben RC finished 6th.
In the Coloured Horse up to 158cm Catherine O’Sullivan & Paintwork Lad were again in the ribbons taking 2nd prize, while Shauna Freeney & Nic Nac were 6th.
In the Coloured Horse over 158cm class Serena Finnerty & Fountain Sissco of Corrib RC were 6th.
Catherine O’Sullivan & Paintwork Lad took the Reserve Champion Coloured Horse Title.
In the Intermediate Performance Hunter Class Christine McWilliams on Guinness Mc from Corrib RC were 3rd and Rachel Burke on Rookery Blue from Benbulben RC were 5th.
On Sunday the success continued for competitiors from the Western Region, in the Team Show Jumping Challenge Donegal Gaeltacht’s 3 rider team of Laura Schneider on Chloe Lass, Emily Schneider on Raylady & Patricia Warren on Hes a Dandy finished 2nd while Benbulbens team of Gwen McDermott on Carlton Spice, Fiona Tansey on Cloon Silver Cloud, Breda Perrin on Erronagh Sky & Julie Magennis on Grey News were 4th.
In the Intermediate Team Show Jumping Benbulben RC took the top spot with a team comprising of Edwina Ruane on Kilathurley Elvis, Avril Burke on Rookery Apache, Rachel Burke on Rookery Blue & Anna Burke on Rookery Sparkle.
In the Advanced Primary Individual Show Jumping Cathriona Goaley & Curra Whoopi claimed first place for Springmount RC.
In the Intermediate Power & Speed Avril Burke on Rookery Apache from Benbulben RC was 6th, Anna Burke, also from Benbulben RC on Rookery Sparkle was 7th & Colm Kelly on Monard Rose of Castlerea from Corrib RC was 8th.
Back in the Showing rings Geraldine Donoghue of Castle Carraig was 2nd the Primary Showing class with Lucky Cosmo and Rachel Lee of Corrib was 3rd with Prince Owen.
In the Connemara Performance class Therese Anderson of Benbulben came 2nd with Kilian Boy and Cathriona Goaley of Springmount was 3rd with Curra Whoopi.
In the Irish Draught Performance class Martin Shaughnessy on Putchacauns Mr Rose of Corrib RC came 5th.
In the Ex-Racehorse performance class Darragh Ruane of Benbulben RC came 3rd riding The Guns of Dunree.
Rachel Burke of Benbulben RC was 5th in the Intermediate Working Hunter class riding Rookery Blue, Katie Winspear of West Coast RC was 5th on Maraghmore Sam & 6th on Woodland Morning in the 4 & 5 year old Working Hunter while Donegal Gaeltachts Laura Schneider took 1st place in the Advanced Intermediate & above Working Hunter with Chloe Lass. Laura also won Reserve Champion Working Hunter with Chloe Lass.
AIRC Western Region 