Laoise O’Farrell winner of The Dengie Speed Competition praising her pony Monlough Meteor

Twenty four members from Area 17 qualified for the Dengie  Showjumping and Dressage Championships and the NFU Quiz Championships at Moreton Morrell college in Warwickshire.

In the Dengie Speed Competition Laoise O’Farrell (Iveagh) on Monlough Meteor did a fantastic round to come first, while Kiara Malcolmson (Iveagh) on Tyrone Molly came 6^th,a wonderful result for Kiara’s first Dengie trip. Sarah Moore (Iveagh) on Seapatrick Make A Move, one of the two youngest in the competition, did one of the fastest rounds but sadly had a pole down. Kyra Gilmour on Warren Bank representing RD Equestrian did a very good round to come 7^th. It was super to see a Centre Member get to the Championships and do so well. Aoife Carr (Route) on Kaleidoscope and Victoria Surgeoner (Mid Antrim) on Rocket Lady both did good clear rounds while Katie Good (Killultagh) on Ballymourne Lilly had an unfortunate pole down. They all went well over the warm-up course, before facing Steve Martin’s challenging Championship course.

Caitie Slater on Colour Code Chinnook looking very professional during their dressage test

In the Open speed competition, Carl Webb (Iveagh) on Crazy Dreamer did well to come 6^th, while Kerrie Kerr (Iveagh) on Knockannagveigh Limited Edition did one of the fastest rounds,  but with an unlucky pole down.  Charlotte Harding (East Antrim) on Crossmaglen Bandit did a steady clear round and Aisling Monaghan (Seskinore) on Emby had an unlucky pole down.

Laoise O’Farrell winner of The Dengie Speed Competition with Carl Webb who was 6th in The Dengie Open Speed Competition and Kiara Malcolmson who was 6th in The Dengie Speed Competition

In the Dengie Championship Eva Kerton (Iveagh) on Colour Confusion was the only Area 17 member to get into the jump off and was doing a very fast clear round which got us all very excited until the last fence! Eva had been one of the fastest rounds in the Speed competition, but alas with a pole down.

In the Open Grand Prix Aisling and Carl both had one pole down while Kerrie and Charlotte (on a big horse for a twelve year old) both got into the second round. Steve Martin’s course meant that only four made the jump off. The four faulters were placed by their time in the second round. So Charlotte was fifth and Kerrie was ninth… a brilliant result for the two youngest competitors.

Laoise O’Farrell winner of The Dengie Speed Competition with Aoife Carr and Kiara Malcolmson who were both placed.

All the Area 17 supporters were very proud of the way that their members went over a very challenging course. The Iveagh Branch were very grateful for all the help that Micky McCann gave the competitors’ and Liz Lowry the Area Representative was very pleased with how they all rode.

In the Dressage Champioships the next day there were eight members qualified from Area 17. In the Novice A competition Caitie Slater (Iveagh)on Colour Code Chinook, Scott McIvor (Seskinore) on Canadian Clipper and Charlotte Harding  on her pony, Winterfold Ivy, not a large horse as in the previous day’s jumping!

All did respectable tests while in Arena B Vicky Campbell (Iveagh) on Denis The Menace did a lovely test and came 4^th to the delight of all the supporters. Katie Magill (Killultagh) on Flapjack Flyer and Kirsten Thom (Mid Antrim) on Cloonlee Red River both did good tests finishing in 9th place.

In the Open Dressage Championships Christine McNally (Route) on Boltown Hemera went brilliantly to come 6^th in her arena while in the other Arena, Erin Burns (Iveagh) on Harry Hoot was the youngest competing by a long way and did a very competent test and was congratulated by a Pony Club Official. It was so good to see the members from Area 17 riding so well at the Dengie Dressage Championships.

The Iveagh Quiz Team of Sarah Sinton, Rachel Taylor, Jack Scott and Lucy Morton all enjoyed the Quiz experience, except that one member found out that you cannot identify things by smell if you have a heavy cold! All the Events were enjoyable for all the competitors and their support team. It was great to see the our members who were the youngest in both Show Jumping levels and the Open Dressage coping so well. A wonderful experience for all the Area 17 members who rode so well and tried their hardest

Matthew Johnston on Bluestone Jupitor

The Meadows, Lurgan was the setting once again for the first leg of the Iveagh Dengie Dressage League. This is open to all comers, not just Pony Club. Despite the Christmas like conditions, the McCusker team had the arenas in immaculate condition and many riders were delighted to get their horses/ponies properly exercised, a few ponies demonstrated  their excitement, one poor rider hit the ground twice in the warm-up, but still smiling, went on to win her class! Unfortunately we had a very low attendance in the introductory class but Sam McElroy on Toby rode a very mature test and was complimented by the judges on his ability to prepare for each movement. The Novice class was split into two sections, one won by Vicky Campbell   just ahead of Daniel Kehoe. Daniel had been concentrating on other sporting activities so was pleased with his successful return. The other Novice section was won by Charlotte Leslie with Ellie McElroy in second position. Roisin Muirhead on her lovely Dunsallen was the winner of the Open class. Special mention must be made of the brave parents who also took part and let’s hope more are encouraged to take part next week. There seem to be a few  private mother/daughter competitions!  The judges, Janet Hall and Ivor Harper, were impressed with the standard of many of the tests, and it is only the beginning of the season.

Clear round jumping was available in the other arena, for both dressage and non-dressage riders.

Lucy Johnston Donegreagh Prionsias

Sunday 25^th is the next dressage competition and Dengie Dressage qualifier. Details on the Iveagh Pony Club website.  First-timers are welcome to try the Introductory test.

Introductory Test:

1^st Sam McElroy on Belmont Toby

Novice Arena 1:

1^st Vicky Campbell, Denis the Menace. 2^nd Daniel Kehoe, Killeshin George. 3^rd Sarah Moore, Seapatrick Make a Move, 4^th Kate Shields, Melody Maker

Novice Arena 2:

1^st Charlotte Leslie, Shadowfax Lady. 2^nd Ellie McElroy, Monochrome Boy. 3^rd Laoise O’Farrell, Monlough Meteor, 4^th Suzanne O’Farrell ,Larry.

Novice Dengie Qualifiers: Kerry Magill, Laoise O’Farrell, Ellie McElroy, Charlotte Leslie, Daniel Kehoe, Sarah Moore, Vicky Campbell, Kate Shields.

Open Class

1^st Roisin Muirhead, Dunsallen. 2^nd Kathryn King, Roc Tredudon. 3^rd Toby Purce, Stan 4^th Roisin Muirhead, Phoenix Firefly

Open Dengie Qualifiers: As above

Starting with the Show Jumping on Saturday, the warm up classes ahead of the Championships in the afternoon saw double success for the Pembrokeshire Hunt Branch, with Lucianna Rabaiotti and B Brief 11 winning the Winter League warm up in a time of 49.87 seconds, and Amy Tucker, with Raindance Rebel, taking the Open Grand Prix warm up top slot in 54.78.

The Winter League Championship enjoyed an entry of near 90 competitors, with just 16 going forward to the jump off including Isabel Lindsay, with Bailey XII, who went on to make the long trip down from the Fife Hunt Branch worthwhile, taking the top spot in a time of 35.03 seconds. “I am so excited and happy to have won the Dengie Winter League Championships” commented Isabel. “I really wanted to improve on my 4th place from 2013, I had such a fun time meeting all the Irish team and jumping mini-jumps until very late with them; the whole weekend was unforgettable and winning was the icing on the cake!”

With the course height raised the Open Grand Prix, which had a sound entry of near 50, got underway. Following the first round around two thirds of the field went forward to jump in the second round, and a consistent eight reached the jump off; with India Bussey, from the South Norfolk Branch, riding Westside Menlough taking the top spot in a time of 34.84 seconds, fault free throughout. “I felt a bit nervous in the collecting ring being on the smallest pony in the jump off, but when we jumped Hugo filled me with confidence because he’s such a trier” commented India. “It’s been a great experience to compete nationally, and thanks to Dengie and The Pony Club for making it happen!”

Sunday saw yet more sunshine and 80 riders taking part across the Novice and Open level Dressage. The first and second placed riders going through to the Novice ride off had all cleared 70% scores and it was tight at the top, but it was Isabelle Beeston from the Atherstone Hunt, riding VIP, who kept it consistent to emerge with a top score of 72.6%. “Coming into the championships I was aiming to finish with a rosette, so I was thrilled to come second in my arena and qualify for the ride off!” commented Isabelle. “When I was told that I had actually won I was so shocked, the standard of the other riders in the ride off was so high, I was absolutely over the moon to come away as the novice champion!”

Yet more impressive scores in the Open section produced a clear four to go forward to the ride off. Charlotte McDowall and Felinmor Buddy, from the Ledbury Hunt, dominated as a combination, who also placed 2nd in the Dengie Novice Championships in 2013, and excelled to produce a score of 73.38% to take the top slot. “Going to the Championships was utterly amazing” trilled Charlotte “I would like to thank Dengie for sponsoring the event, and the Ledbury Hunt Branch of The Pony Club for all their help and training in getting me this far”.

“Dengie is delighted to support the Pony Club Winter League Championships” comments Lisa Wilson, Marketing Manager for Dengie Horse Feeds. “As always, it was great to have the opportunity to chat to so many young riders and their families about the benefits of feeding a fibre-based diet and to hear all about their horses and ponies”.

“The jump-off for the Winter League and the Open Grand Prix were fantastically exciting, with the riders really going for it, while the dressage ride-offs were so polished and elegant that I really didn’t envy the judges their difficult task. Standards of riding were extremely high in both disciplines and we send our congratulations to those who were crowned champions and all those who took part.”

Click for show jumping results or dressage results.

The sun shone, and the competition heated up over the two days, for the 200 Pony Club competitors who had qualified at Novice and Open level, during the winter months.

Starting with the Show Jumping on Saturday the warm up classes, ahead of the Championships in the afternoon, saw success for Martha Newall (18) from the Cheshire Hunt South Branch riding Maddy in the Winter League warm up, and Jasmin Shiret (17) from the East Sussex Branch riding Zebedee in the Open warm up.

The Winter League Championship enjoyed an entry of near 90 competitors, with 26 going forward to the jump off; but it was Casey Webb, from the Iveagh Branch, riding Bluestone Bee who made the long journey worthwhile clinching the title in a time of 36.77. “The Dengie Winter League is always an important focus for the Iveagh Branch” commented Casey, “so I am delighted to have won on my second trip to the Championships, having won the Horsemanship Award in 2012”.

With the course height raised the *Open Grand Prix, which had a sound entry of just over 50, got underway. Following the first round, a third of the field went forward to jump in the second round, and a consistent seven reached the jump off; with Lydia Parrott (17) from the South Staffordshire Hunt Branch, riding Pip, jumping an effortless three clear rounds in total, to take the title in a time on 37.61.

Sunday saw yet more good weather and nearly 80 riders taking part across the Novice and Open level Dressage.  The first and second placed riders going through to the Novice ride off had all cleared the 70% score and it was tight at the top, but it was Ffion Evans from the Pembrokeshire HuntBranch and Glyn Coch Red Rascal, who improved on their section score to take the Novice title on 72.60%.

More impressive scores produced a clear four to go forward to the ride off in the Open where Anna Lawson and Carentino Z from the Chiddingfold Farmers Branch, who had already dominated in their section on 74.84%, proved they were in it to win it, securing the Open title on 73.06%. “I went to the Championships hoping that we would get to the ride off, but I never thought that we would win it!” commented a thrilled Anna, “Carentino Z was a star all day!”

“The Pony Club Winter League Championships are always a tremendously exciting occasion and Dengie is delighted to lend its support to something that is so important to the hundreds of young riders who take part,” said the brand’s marketing manager, Lisa Wilson. “It was great to have the opportunity to chat to so many families about the benefits of a fibre-based equine diet, hear all about their horses and ponies and find out what they’ve been up to over the past few months. Our congratulations go to all who took part, particularly those fortunate enough to win!”