EAST Antrim branch hosted this year’s Pony Club Area Dressage, together with the new SEIB Search for A Star competition, on June 25 at Laurel View, by kind permission of Robert and Linda Davis. The day dawned wet and windy, but although it remained blustery, almost all the riders stayed dry.
The action began at 9am with the SEIB Search for A Star, which took place in the grass paddock beside the small indoor school. This comprised a series of introductory showing classes for Pony Club members, sponsored by SEIB insurance brokers. All classes were kindly judged by Andrea Gibson, who complimented all the riders on their high standard of turnout. East Antrim Pony Club would like to thank Andrea for her enthusiasm, encouragement and support for a competition, which is new to Pony Club and hopefully will now start to grow.
The dressage commenced at 9.30am, with both team and individual competitions ranging from Open for the senior riders to a walk and trot test for younger members. A total of 160 riders took part and East Antrim Pony Club would like to extend their sincere thanks to judges Ivor Harper, Lucinda Webb-Graham, Jacky Reid and Sally Hodgkinson, together with their scribes.
Competition was intense, with members in the Open, Intermediate and Novice classes vying for qualification for UK Pony Club Championships and those in the Regional/ Grassroots class competing for qualification for Regional championships in Scotland.
In the Open class, individual glory went to Caoimhe Crozier and ‘Hill Monarch’, who not only took first place individually but were also on the winning East Down team. She was presented with the Cunningham Cup awarded to the highest placed open rider.
In the Intermediate class, East Antrim’s Patrick Cunningham and his bay gelding ‘Embarcadero’ took the individual honours in a very close competition. The winning team were Zoe Daniel, Ellie McElroy, Kitty Cullen and Holly Donnan of Iveagh, with Killultagh in second place and North Down in third.
In a Novice class of over 30 riders, Hannah Thompson and her horse ‘Jemeela Charm’ took first place for Mid Antrim, with East Antrim’s Erin McCrea in second and Iveagh’s Emma Irwin in third. East Antrim (Erin McCrea, Katie Flannagan, Erin McClernon and Mya McCullough) were the winners in the team competition, followed by the Iveagh Pandas in second place and East Down We Dance in third.
The Grassroots/ Regional class was contested by over 60 riders and was split across two arenas. The winning combination in Arena 2 were Tilly Tumilty and ‘Millbar Phynix’ from Iveagh, followed by Beth Wishart (Iveagh) and Ellie Bingham (East Antrim). In Arena 3, Charlotte Killen and ‘Super Ted’ of North Derry were first, with Iveagh’s Holly Rice in second and East Antrim’s Hannah Kernohan third. The Iveagh Badgers (Catherine Cowan, Beth Wishart, Tilly Tumilty and Holly Rice) were the first placed team, followed by North Down Emeralds and North Down Rubies in second and third respectively.
The PC 70 class was run for the first time this year in preparation for it being used alongside the Grassroots as a qualifier for Regional Championships in 2023. Iveagh’s Ted Geary and ‘Shadow’ were the winners in Arena 1, with an impressive score of 76.3%, while Mid Antrim’s Molly Clarke and ‘Belle’ took the individual honours in Arena 2. In the team competition, Iveagh (Ted Geary, Lily Murphy and Ellie Murphy) took the top spot, followed by North Down in second and the Mid Antrim Peonies in third.
In the Walk and Trot test, Jessica Law and ‘Aria’, representing Killultagh, were placed first with Katie Duff (North Down) second and Indie Bingham (East Antrim) third. The first placed team in this class were North Down (Katie Duff, Holly McCaroll, Amira Greeves and Erin Wardle), with East Antrim Bumblebees second and Killultagh Diamonds third.
East Antrim would like to thank all the wonderful volunteers, who gave up most of their day in various roles from call up to catering and enabled the competition to run smoothly. Particular mention should be made of the scoring team of Caroline McCrea, Joy Lindsay, Lauren Stewart, Tammy West, Kathy Morrow, Ella Lindsay and Sophia Bingham, who worked tirelessly through a long day to produce accurate results in an efficient manner.
Organisers would also like to extend their thanks to Robert and Linda for the provision of an excellent venue, to Doagh Equestrian and TRI Equestrian for supplying super prizes, to Ballyclare RFC for the loan of their marquee and to Tom and Equi-tog for taking the photographs.
East Antrim would like to wish all the dressage qualifiers the best of luck at both national and regional championships in August.
Full results can be viewed on the East Antrim Pony Club website under Area competitions.
RESULTS
Saturday, June 25
Search for a Star
Lead Rein: 1) Erin Wardle, Saintjohnstor Harry Potter (North Down); 2) and Best Rider) Grace Jackson, Anmeg Limerick (North Down); 3) Hannah McCammond, Telaid Paper Lace (East Antrim).
First Ridden: 1 and Best Rider) Paige Erwin, Ballyhill Boy (East Antrim).
Open: 1 and Best Rider) Aine Clancy, Keenaghan Commander (Tullylagan); 2) Eva McGimpsey, Rockislands Dara Og (North Down); 3) Isabella Stout, Unome (North Down).
This page is available to subscribers. Click here to sign in or get access.
