Tack and turnout competition line at Laurel View

The Laurel View Riding School Christmas Show is a very popular annual event. The 2014 show on Saturday 20^th December saw ten very enthusiastic teams giving show jumping a go, some for the very first time.

The mulled drinks were flowing and the mince pies nice and warm.  Santa’s little helpers were on hand to guide those with navigational issues through the festive fences, while the crowd of supporters and non-jumpers cheered on the riders.

Teams of four members jumped a combo of cross poles, 45cm, 60cm and 70cm, clear rounds as ever being the priority, after that it was speed that sorted the team positions.

Erin McCrea, Zara Davis, Rebecca Gillen and Katie Watt rode Sparky, Peggy, Rab and Bella into the top spot.

Barney B, Bruno, Addy and Cindy were the steeds to take riders Chloe Chesney, Chloe Baxter, Katy Clarke and Simon Wylie into second place.

Appropriately festive prizes were presented to the top teams, before the competitors headed home and the riding school horses and ponies were put to bed for the night.

The Riding School Horses and Ponies began their Christmas holidays on Christmas Eve and over the festive period many of them were looked after and given a little extra TLC by riding school patrons who took the opportunity to have a horse for the holidays.  Lessons commenced again on 2^nd January, so New Year’s Day was an opportune day to have a special tack and turnout competition for these temporary owners. Katie McDonnell got top marks overall for her efforts with Sly.

To find out more about joining Laurel View Riding School as a student give the office a ring on 028 9083 0649 or find out more on the riding lessons page of www.laurelview.co.uk

Riding School Show Results

1^st team

Sparky, Erin McCrea; Peggy, Zara Davis; Rab, Rebecca Gillen; Bella, Katie Watt.

2^nd team

Barney B, Chloe Chesney; Bruno, Chloe Baxter; Addy, Katy Clarke; Cindy, Simon Wylie.

3^rd team

Marley, Monica Conlon; Roly, Shannon Duffy; Barney, Rachel Rafferty; Rab, Sarah Saied.

4^th team

Bruno, Chloe Craig; Peggy, Lucy McMahon Beattie; Roly, Anna Magee; Rab, Grace-Ann Elliott.

5^th team

Sparky, Orlaith McKeating; Tyson, Niamh Sloan; Barney B, Richard Webster; Chief, Cora McNulty.

6^th team

Peggy, Lana Turner; Connie, Cormac Creagh; Guinness, Ellie Templeton; Jori, Savannah Thompson.

Horses for the Holidays

Tack and Turnout Competition

Overall

1^st Katie McDonnell

2^nd Rachel Gracey

3^rd Kate Spence

4^th Natasha Lowry

Plaits Prize – Kate Spence

Hooves Honours – Katie McDonnell

Terrific Tack – Sarah Saied

Cleanest Creature – Laura Devine

Best Groomed Rider – Rachel Rafferty

Super Stable – Katie McDonnell

James Russell on Toby winners of the 40cm class Photo supplied courtesy of Prime Photography Visit www.prime-photography.com to view full album

X Poles –  1,R. Russell’s Toby (Robert Russell), 1,C. McEntaggart’s Billy The Kid (Cassie McEntaggart ); O. Nesbitt’s Whiskey (Orla Nesbitt); 1,A. McEntaggart’s Ranger Roddy (Annie McEntaggart);

40cm- 1, R. McGarrill’s Speckles (Rhianna McGarril); 2, A. Larkin’s Sinita (Anna Larkin);

3, R. Russell’s Toby (Robert Russell);

60cm- 1, J. Nesbitt’s Friskey (Jack Nesbitt); 2, S. Treanor’s Snap Apple (Shannon Treanor);

3, R. McGarrill’s Speckles (Rhianna McGarrill);

Image Supplied courtesy of Prime Photography: Sisters Cassie McTaggart on Billy The Kid & Annie McTaggart on Ranger Roddy winner and runner up in the Best Christmas Themed Turnout class Visit www.prime-photography.com to view full album

70cm- 1, S. Treanor’s Snap Apple  (Shannon Treanor); 2, C. Carville’s FarnanBay (Colleen Carville); 3, P. Reilly’s Buddy  (Pertrina Reilly);

 80cm Speed – 1, E. McCourt’s Blue Water Crystal (Emily McCourt); 2,J. McGarrell’s Chestnut Prince (Jordan McGarrell); 3, J.Russell’s Rockie (James Russell);

Ride & Run-  1, E. McCourt on Blue Watrer Crystal &Michael Morgan; 2,Snane Treanor on Silver & Shannon Treanor;  3, Hannah Rafferty on Robe Dream & Ciara Muirhead;

90cm Accumlater – 1, H. Rafferty’s Robe Dream (Hannah Rafferty); 2, J. Morgan’s Troy (Jessica Morgan); 3, J. Russell’s Jack (James Russell);

85cm Pairs Relay – 1, Hannah Rafferty on Robe Dream & Roisin Muirhead on Dunsallan;

2,James Russell on Jack &Michael Morgan on Shirley’s Boy; 3, James Russell on Rockey & Emily McCourt on Blue Water Crystal;

Power & Speed 1m- 1, A. Telford’s Cieron (Amanda Telford); 2,C. Muirhead’s Phoenis Firefly (Ciara Muirhead); 3, A. Morgan’s Charlie (Adam Morgan);

1m two phase- 1, S. Burns Roxy (Sarah Kilpatrick Burns);

1.10m- 1,L. Wilson’s Beau Charmeur  Lauren Wilson);  2, S. Hughes Gucci Lady (Ellie Hughes);

Winnners of The Best Turned Out Christmas Themed Pony & Rider.

Kiddie Section: Cassie McTaggert & Billy The Kid (Winner of KEC rug) & Runner up Annie McTaggart & Ranger Roddy.

Teen Section: Lauren Wilson & Beau Chameur (Winner of KEC rug).

The Kernan Equestrian Centre Christmas Special took place  on Sunday 29th  December.  This show which included lots of novelty events & prizes  proved very popular  with the children and was extremely well supported despite the icy weather conditions.  An excellent fun day’s jumping was enjoyed by all especially by the lucky prizewinners of the Best Turned Out Christmas themed Pony & Rider. The kiddie section was won by sisters Cassie & Annie McTaggart. The teen section by Lauren Wilson.  Each of the winners received their prize of a Kernan Equestrian Centre rug.

Kernan Equestrian Centre wish all their friends, supporters, judges and helpers a very Happy New Year.

The Wednesday Horse & Pony Training Shows start again on Wednesday 8^th January @ 6.30pm.   These continue every Wednesday. A new SJI Horse & Pony League starts on Sunday

2^nd February. Horses @ 10am/Ponies @ 2pm. This continues through to the FINAL on Sunday 2oth April.

Ravensdale Christmas Show

X poles class: # 1 Ravensdale Lodge’s Womble (V. Tcheebor) 64.89 seconds, # 2 Annie Courtney Cadam’s Scrumdiddlyumptious (A. Courtney Cadam) four faults 56.87 seconds & # 3 Ravensdale Lodge’s Sinatra (C. Leonard) eight faults 50.24 seconds.

60cm class: # 1 Annie Courtney Cadam’s Scrumdiddlyumptious (A. Courtney Cadam) 29.49 seconds, # 2 Ravensdale Lodge’s Rocco (A. Hollywood) eight faults 37.55 seconds, # 3 Katie Creegan’s Poppy (K. Creegan) eight faults 44.68 seconds & # 4 Ravensdale Lodge’s Ebony (C. Collins) eight faults 50.44 seconds.

70cm class: # 1Annie Courtney Cadam’s Scrumdiddlyumptious (A. Courtney Cadam) 28.98 seconds, # 2 Ravensdale Lodge’s Ebony (K. Mc Cabe) 37.55 seconds, # 3 Shania Mackin’s Rossa (S. Mackin) 37.56 seconds, # 4 Katelyn King’s Sandy (K. King) four faults 28.38 seconds & # 5 Aoife Hanratty’s Prince Luca (A. Hanratty).

75cm Top Score: # 1 Rachel Mc Kee’s Buster (R. Mc Kee) 800 points, # 2 Aoife Hanratty’s Prince Luca (A. Hanratty) 710 points, # 3 Vicky Campbell’s Denis The Menace (V. Campbell) 620 points & # 4 Courtney Wilson’s Charante (C. Wilson) 550 points.

80cm class: # 1 Jordan Mc Garry’s Chestnut Prince (G. Mc Garry) 23.59 seconds, # 2 Rachel Mc Kee’s Buster (R. Mc Kee) 25.06 seconds, # 3 Vicky Campbell’s Denis The Menace (V. Campbell) 27.33 seconds, # 4 Ravensdale Lodge’s Ebony (E. Molly) 32.70 seconds, # 5 Ravensdale Lodge’s Mo (L. Finnegan) 42.26 seconds & # 6 Katie O’ Hare’s Blaney’s Boy (K. O’ Hare) four faults 24.66 seconds.

85cm Top Score:  # 1 Catherine King’s Gina (C. King) 900 points, # 2 Laura King’s Max (L. King) 810 points, # 3 Melissa mc Kee’s Prince Of Hearts (M. Mc Kee) 760 points, # 4 Rosalyn Brown’s Spruce (R. Brown) 650 points & # 5 Katie O’ Hare’s Blaney’s Boy (K. O’ Hare) 650 points.

90cm class: # 1 Catherine King’s Gina (C. King) 23.97 seconds & # 2 Charlotte Eakin’s Scarlet Rose (C. Eakin) 32.29 seconds.

1m class: # 1 Laura Keery’s Ferro Diamond (L. Keery) 30.61 seconds, # 2 Laura King’s Max (L. King) 30.73 seconds, ‘ # 3 Catherine King’s Rocky (C. King) 31.27 seconds, # 4 Joe Haffey’s John L (J. Haffey) 31.62 seconds & # 5 Courtney Wilson’s Charante (C. Wilson) 33.21 seconds.

1.10m class: # 1 Jessica Finnegan’s Sunday Cruise (J. Finnegan) four faults 36.40 seconds @ # 2 Courtney Wilson’s Charante (C. Wilson) eight faults 44.87 seconds.

Ravensdale Lodge’s winter / spring schedule of events commences Thursday 23rd January with indoor horse training from 11am, classes 70cm to 1.30m. Friday 24th January there is a horse & pony training show from 5.30pm with classes from X poles to 1.10m. Saturday 25th January sees the first of the indoor arena eventing league which commences at 2pm with the 70cm class which is followed by the 85cm class at 3pm & the 1m class at 4pm. Sunday 26th January it’s the turn of indoor dressage from 2pm and all weekly classes can be found on the Ravensdale Lodge website.

Weather does not deter die hard riders at Ravensdale Lodge.

Great credit must be given to everyone who attended the Bumper Christmas show at Ravensdale Lodge on Friday, 27th December especially those who travelled such great distances to be part of this annual festive event which brings the curtain down on the show season at the centre every year. The atrocious weather conditions which lingered from the storm of the previous evening which left so many stranded or without electricity could not put a dampener on those who had put the date in their calendar since last year’s show. As the day went on & weather improved the constant stream of competitors came down the driveway filling the ample car park. The numbers that did attend despite the weather conditions surprised everyone, but as one canny riders said “I knew I was coming to a great indoor arena where I would be high and dry!”

There were the usual classes on offer throughout the day with a couple of novel top score classes added which provided great excitement. The early classes were dominated by either Ravensdale Lodge horses and riders and Annie Courtney Cadam, daughter of top show jumper & producer Linda, who proved very prolific & well schooled in vacuuming up prizes on her own Scrumdiddlyumptious! Russian born, Dundalk resident Vincent Tcheebor was the clear winner with the only clear round in the X poles class as he steered Ravensdale Womble home in a time of 64.89 seconds. Annie Courtney Cadam had to settle for the blue ribbon in this class while another Ravensdale horse & pupil slotted into third place, this time it was Ciara Leonard riding Sinatra. Courtney Cadam was only interested in red rosettes in the next two classes as she cleaned up with two fine displays in the 60cm & 70cm classes with Scrumdiddlyumptious winning the 60cm class in a time of 29.49 seconds and the 70cm class in an even faster 28.98 seconds. Second in the 60cm class was Aoife Hollywood from Newry with Ravensdale Rocco while Katie Creegan was third with her own Poppy. Russian blood was to the fore again in the 70cm class as Ravensdale pupil Katerina Mc Cabe, whose mother is Russian slotted into second place in a time of 37.55 seconds on Ravensdale Ebony while Shania Mackin came home third on Rossa, stopping the clock on 37.56 seconds. The first of the two top score classes proved very exciting and close as Kilkeel rider and Ravensdale regular Rachel Mc Kee & Buster won the class with a score of 800 points. Castlebellingham rider Aoife Hanratty came home second in the class with her lovely young rescue horse Prince Luca, the pairing scoring 710 points. Aoife was clearly delighted with the performance of her gelding whose fate could have been so different but for her intervention. Vicky Campbell from Warrenpoint came home third in this class, picking up 620 points with Denis The Menace while Courtney Wilson got her afternoon up and running by slotting into fourth place on Charante, the pairing finishing on 550 points.

The next competition, the 80cm class was back to two phase and Monaghan rider Jordan Mc Garry came out on top of this very competitive class with his own Chestnut Prince with the fastest time of the afternoon 23.59 seconds. Mc Garry needed to be quick to beat renowned speed merchants Rachel Mc Kee & Buster as the combination gave it their all but eventually had to settle for second place with a very fast time of 25.06 seconds. Another fast combination, this time Rostrevor rider Vicky Campbell & Denis The Menace slotted into third place with a time of 27.33 seconds. Like Annie Courtney Cadam had done in the earlier classes, Catherine & Laura King proved to be the dominant forces in the next few classes. Catherine King & Gina prevailed in the 85cm top score class and regular 90cm class finishing with a massive 900 points and a lightning fast time of 23.97 seconds respectively. 810 points would have been the clear winner of the previous 75cm top score class however Laura King had to settle for second place on board Max while 760 points was good enough for Melissa Mc Kee with Prince Of Hearts to take third place in the competition. Rosalyn Brown with Spruce and Katie O’ Hare with Blaney’s Boy tied on 650 points in the class however Brown’s slightly faster time of 65.48 seconds was good enough for fourth place while O’ Hare had to settle for fifth with 67.52 seconds. Second in the 90cm class was Lurgan rider Charlotte Eakins with her own Scarlet Rose, their time 32.29 seconds. Laura King & Max had to settle for second place again in the 1m class as Laura Keery riding her own Ferro Diamond came out on top with a time of 30.61 seconds. Catherine King, this time riding Rocky slotted into third place in a time of 31.27 seconds while Newry rider Joe Haffey was fourth with John L and Courtney Wilson and Charante were fifth. Local rider Jessica Finnegan with Sunday Cruise won the last class of the day, the 1.10m class, the combination putting in the only clear round  and their time was 36.40 seconds while Courtney Wilson rounded off a good day by slotting into second in the class with Charante.

Winning and placed combinations went home with the usual array of great prizes associated with Ravensdale Lodge’s Bumper Shows with hampers & prizes on offer from Botanica International, Horse First, Mackins Horse Feeds, Moorhill Saddlery & O’ Reillys Wholesalers Newry. Riders must also be congratulated for their efforts in getting togged out in their “worst festive jumpers” on the day. Judges had a very difficult time selecting from the wonderful selection of Christmas wear with Kirsten Patterson, Vicky Campbell, Leanne Finnegan, Emily Molloy, Megan Keane & Katie O’ Hare all going home with special spot prizes for their efforts. Another fun filled day with great competition and prizes was had by all and try as it may, the adverse weather conditions did not win out in the end as the sun set on another memorable show season at Ravensdale Lodge. The management and staff at the centre would like to take this opportunity to thanks everyone who came and competed throughout the year at Ravensdale Lodge. We wish everyone a very Happy New Year and look forward to welcoming friends, old and new to the centre in 2014.

Ravensdale Lodge’s winter / spring schedule of events commences Thursday 23rd January with indoor horse training from 11am, classes 70cm to 1.30m. Friday 24th January there is a horse & pony training show from 5.30pm with classes from X poles to 1.10m. Saturday 25th January sees the first of the indoor arena eventing league which commences at 2pm with the 70cm class which is followed by the 85cm class at 3pm & the 1m class at 4pm. Sunday 26th January it’s the turn of indoor dressage from 2pm and all weekly classes can be found on the Ravensdale Lodge website.

The packed schedule of events includes a number of classes to include pairs competitions, accumulators, king and queen of the ring, six bar, puissance, all beginning with warm up classes to get everyone limbered up for a day of competition.

Their Schedule is now on their website www.portmoreequestriancentre.com

Sponsors for the show include:

Carbon Catch ltd, Tannyoky, GunsRathlane Construction, Bob Sweeney and O Hara Jewellers

The mulled drinks were flowing and the mince pies nicely warmed. Snowmen and Santa’s cheered the riders on at every jump. Santa’s little helpers aided those with navigational issues, while the crowd of supporters, urged on the riders.

Team members jumped a combo of cross poles, 50cm, 70cm and 80cm, clear rounds as ever being the priority, after that it was speed that sorted the team positions.

Taking the top team spot was Rachel Gracey, Emily Elliott, Emma McWilliam and Amy Neill, riding Sky, Rab, Misty and Wills. Amy Neill was obviously some kind of lucky mascot, as Amy rode in the top three teams!!

Collecting a red, blue and yellow team rosette obviously spurred Amy on as she was in fine fettle when it came to the high jump.  She out jumped all the other riders on George, clearing 1 metre 35 to finish first and claim the cash prize, very useful for the Laurel View Christmas Dinner that night. Kirsty Marsden and Jackie Hanna put in valiant performances on Marvin and Cora, but there seemed to be no stopping Amy.

Top performing pony in the high jump was Gemma Ferguson on Chief, she out jumped her fellow pony riders, but continued to jump along with the horses, even after her father couldn’t watch anymore!

The prizes were awarded and the opportunity was taken to present Riding School Assistant Certificates of Competence to all the Saturday helpers who have successfully completed the Riding School Assistants syllabus over the past year. This brought a great day of festive fun to a close for another year.

Riding School Show Results

1^st team

Rachel Gracey, Sky; Emily Elliott, Rab; Emma McWilliam, Misty; Amy Neill, Wills.

2^nd team

Finn Devlin, Bob; Kate Spence, Keady; Kirsty Marsden, Marvin; Amy Neill, George.

3^rd team

Darci Harbinson, Tyson; Simone Ferris, Roly; Amy Neill, Roger; Jackie Hanna, Cora.

4^th team

Paul Duffy, Tally; Sharka Gerhardus, Bridget; Simon Wylie, Jimmy; Edana Butler, Bella.

5^th team

Chloe Baxter, Bob; Cathy Hawkins, Lass; Gemma Ferguson, Chief; Josh Boyles, Peter.

6^th team

Kirsty Wallace, Bruno; Rebecca Pattinson, Marley; Katie McDonnell, Keady; Hannah Cuthbertson, Fitz.

High Jump

Ponies

1^st Gemma Ferguson, Chief; 2^nd tie Connie Jordan, Blue and Sophie McGuckin, Addy.

Horses

1^st Amy Neill, George; 2^nd Kirsty Marsden, Marvin; 3^rd Jackie Hanna, Cora.