Working Hunter success for Strule Valley club

STRULE Valley Riding Club held a successful Working Hunter show to include NI Festival Qualifiers on Sunday, April 10 in Ecclesville, Fintona.

Thanks are extended to Seamus McCaffrey for building a challenging but flowing working hunter course; to Alan Gilchrist for transporting his rustic fences and fillers and also Sandra Somerville, Sonya McKenna and Raymond Caldwell; to Colm McCullagh from Ecclesville Centre for his help with building the course and Alan Gilchrist and Alison Donnell.

The club would like to thank Emma Hobson for judging; Alison Donnell, scribe; Helen Badger, call up and Dorothy Crawford, entries. Thanks also to the catering van for refreshments.

Thanks must also go to Gillian Hynes, Henry Flood and Alan Gilchrist for clearing the arena afterwards.

Thanks to all the competitors for coming along to compete and congratulations to those who were taking part in working hunter for the first time. Mullaghmore Stables made the journey to Co. Tyrone and were well represented, with Moorlough Riding Club also being well represented under the guidance of Victor Preston, with members winning the 1 metre and 1.10m classes.

Congratulations to those combinations who won their classes. Pamela Caldwell on ‘Hetty’ won the 60cm class; Heather Smith on ‘Amber Vision’ won the 70cm; Elizabeth Smith on ‘Rocky’ won the cob class; Stacey Olphert on ‘Ozzie’ won the 80cm class; Eimear Watson on ‘Gaurlin Lady’ won the Small Hunter class; Charlene Little on ‘Sapphie’ won the 90cm; Alicia Temple on ‘Chocolate Glider’ won the metre class and Dervla Devine on ‘Native Ruby’ won the last class of the day, the 1.10m.

It was lovely to see the first and second placed combinations stay to the end to take part in the championship and Emma Hobson, judge, then went on to give the champion rosette to Eimear Watson on ‘Gaurlin Lady’, with Pamela Caldwell on ‘Hetty’ as reserve.

Ann and Noel Regan’s Rosie O’Grady Perpetual Cup was awarded to Eimear Watson on ‘Gaurlin Lady’ for being the highest placed Strule Valley Riding Club member.

Those combinations that have qualified in the qualifying classes, are reminded to get their entry completed online for the upcoming NI Festival at Cavan Equestrian Centre if they wish to compete.

Another date for your diary is the Strule Valley Riding Club Annual Easter Charity Pleasure Ride at Baronscourt Estate by kind permission of the Duke of Abercorn. The ride sets off at 11am sharp and is in aid of Air Ambulance Northern Ireland. The pleasure ride is a gentle walk around Lake Catherine and is open to members and non-members. Under 18s £5 and over 18s £10.

RESULTS

Sunday, April 10

Working Hunter show with NI Festival Qualifiers

Class 1 – 60cm: 1) Hetty, Pamela Caldwell; 2) Ally, Cheryl Veitch; 3) Shelby, Caoimhe McCarra; 4) Cecil, Marisa McCarra; 5) Donald, Niamh McCarra; 6) What’s the Craic Jack, Gillian Hynes.

Class 2 – 70cm: 1) Amber Vision, Heather Smith; 2) Hetty, Pamela Caldwell; 3) Earl Robin, Sandra Somerville; 4) Lucy, Ava Stubbs; 5) What’s the Craic Jack, Gillian Hynes; 6) Riley, Jenna Coote.

Class 3 – Four-year-olds – NIF Qualifier: No entries.

Class 4 – Cobs: 1) Elizabeth Smith, Rocky; 2) Sonya McKenna, Mr Cool.

Class 5 – 80cm NIF Qualifier: 1) Ozzie, Stacey Olphert; 2) Lucy, Ava Stubbs; 3) Sue, Katie Clarke; 4) Gortmore Spring Bell, Ailish McBride; 5) Danjaman, Katie Sweetman; 6) Furistos Trump Girl, Charlotte Coyle.

Class 6 – Small Working Hunter NIF Qualifier: 1) Gaurlin Lady, Eimear Watson; 2) Sapphie, Charlene Little; 3) Sue, Katie Clarke; 4) Dinky, Jill Pinkerton.

Class 7 – 90cm NIF Qualifier: 1) Sapphie, Charlene Little; 2) Gaurlin Lady, Eimear Watson; 3) Gortmore Spring Bell, Ailish McBride.

Class 8 – 1 metre NIF Qualifier: 1) Chocolate Glider, Alicia Temple; 2) Native Ruby, Dervla Devlin; 3) Covehill Boy, Ailish McBride.

Class 9 – 1.10m NIF Qualifier: 1) Native Ruby, Dervla Devlin; 2) Covehill Boy, Ailish McBride; 3) Chocolate Glider, Alicia Temple.

Champion: Gaurlin Lady, Eimear Watson; Reserve: Hetty, Pamela Caldwell.

Winner of the Rosie O’Grady Perpetual Cup: Eimear Watson, Gaurlin Lady.