winners of 70 cm class
Claire Dobbin, Michelle McConnell, Jen Moore & Sharon Lappin Photo AP Photography

Saturday 16th August 2014 saw our second Cash Derby on Grass.  The course consisted of a mix of cross country, show jump and working hunter fences with lots of twists and turns to test both horse and rider.  Ground conditions were perfect and once again we had lots of new faces in attendance to try their luck at winning the cash prizes!  First out onto the course was Ruth Wilson on her Grey Home Alone City in the 1m class.  The skinny log fence caused several run outs for several of the competitors in this class. Cara Norman on her young mount Two Tone Ventura rode a fabulous round and secured first place and Rachel Hughes on Peter Perfect into second place.

These were the only two clear rounds of the 1m class.  The course was adjusted to 85cm and once again the competition commenced.  The ditch combination caught a few horses by surprise but not young Cerys Howell on Runaway Dolly and Captain Morgan who went on to secure first and second place.

winners of 1m class
Cara Norman, Rachel Hughes, Molly Mccloskey & Tilly Horder Photo: AP Photography

The 70 cm class saw Claire Dobbin on Louie ride a super round to secure first place swiftly followed by Michelle McConnell on Bob.
Results:

1m Cara Norman – Two Tone Ventura
Rachel Hughes – Peter Perfect
Molly McCloskey – Archie
Tilly Horder – Dute

85 cm
Cerys Howell – Runaway Dolly
Cerys Howell – Captain Morgan
Albert Lowry – Oh Dear
Scott Logan – Jimble

70 cm

Ruth Wilson on Home Alone City Photo AP Photography

Albert Lowry on Oh Dear Photo: AP Photography

Claire Dobbin – Louie
Michelle McConnell – Bob
Jen Moore – Commander Oliver
Sharon Lappin – Tori

Its a first for “Dashing Daniel” and Zebedee in the 85′s

Grass or sand? That was the question at Laurel View for the start of the Outdoor Derby League on the 11^th May. On Saturday evening courses were built (near enough) on both the sand and on the grass, but when the forecasters got it right, the overnight deluge of rain made the final decision to run on the sand a no brainer!

Claire Dobbin and Louie, regulars at the Laurel View derby’s showed that practice makes perfect riding the only clear round in the sixties and securing the 1^st place spot.  A jump off was needed to sort second and third, when it was Casper and Stacey Erwin who pulled off the fastest time to take home the blue ribbon.

Over the 70cm course it was Zebedee that bounced into 1^st place after jumping clear over the course and making the best time in the jump off, only a fraction ahead off Simone Leathem and Willow.

Louie and Claire Dobbin take first in the 60′s

Three riders made it clear over the 85cm fences to head to the jump off decider, but it was only Dashing Daniel and Jenny Beattie that made it over the jump off clear, putting them in the No.1 spot.  Gillian McCann and Amazon took the blue rosette after picking up 4 faults in the jump off.

The metre competitors weren’t going to let the arena party slack off in the last class of the day, but in the end it was Clare McVeigh on Highdell New Moon who went home with the red rosette and Courtney Hamilton and Buddy coming in a valiant second.

Clicking away on his camera capturing competitors at pertinent moments was the Equi-Tog photographer, his photos can be requested by emailing info@equi-tog.com

William Hamilton and “Zebedee” spring over the seventies

The next leg of the league is on the 1^st June, whether it’s on the grass or the all-weather is anyone’s guess but whatever the surface the competition is set to start at 12.30pm with the 60cm class.

Results

Derby 1 of 5 held on 11.5.14

60cms – 1^st Louie, Claire Dobbin; 2^nd Casper, Stacey Erwin; 3^rd Connie, Cora McNulty; 4^th Trampus, Charli Henrymccool.

70cms – 1^st Zebedee, William Hamilton; 2^nd Willow, Simone Leathem; 3^rd Tikka. Alex Henrymccool; 4^th The Castletown Lad, Miriam Wright; 5^th Casper, Stacey Erwin; 6^th Trampus, Charli Henrymccool.

85cms – 1^st Dashing Daniel, Jenny Beattie; 2^nd Amazon, Gillian McCann; 3^rd Oh Dear, Albert Lowry; 4^th Flo, Marie Henry; 5^th Buddy, Courtney Hamilton; 6^th Tikka, Alex Henrymccool.

1m – 1^st Highdell New Moon, Clare McVeigh; 2^nd Buddy, Courtney Hamilton.

Ella Boyle and “Roo” in fine form winning 1st in the 85 and 2nd in the metre.

The rain stopped and the sun came out for the third leg of the Laurel View Indoor Derby League on the second of the second.

Sixties were the first to get things swinging and competitors got excellent value for their money as jump offs were needed to decide the results. A quick clear jump off sealed the deal for Claire Dobbin and Louie taking first place, while The Story Teller and Sasha Wilson picked up faults in the jump off to leave them in the second place slot.

The top six competitors all made it clear over the 70cm course.  Even over the jump off course these riders kept things clean, with not a fault on the score sheet! So in the end it all came down to speed and quickest over the line on the day were Sarah Irwin and Jill. Hatti and Megan Norton were only a fraction slower leaving them with the blue rosette.

Claire Dobbin and “Louie” leap into 1st over the 60cm.

The 85 course was not quite as clear cut, keeping the arena party busier. The adrenaline kept flowing right to the end of the jump offs which saw Ella Boyle and Roo emerging victorious, a second or two ahead off Ellie May and Jennifer McIlwrath.

The metre class brought the day to a very satisfactory conclusion, even though everyone picked up a fault or two. Christina Rossbottom and Misty came out of top of the class, with Ella Boyle and Roo just a hop behind.

The Equi-Tog photographer was on hand to record the competitors for posterity as they tackled the twists and turns of the well-built course.

Misty and Christina Rossbottom make it to the top of the metre.

The next and fourth leg of the Indoor Derby League is on the calendar for 16^th March with the final scheduled for 6^th April. Both will have a 12.30pm start time and will start with the 60cm competitors first, before moving up through 70, 85 and finally the metre courses. The cash prize fund (£2 from each entry paid) is building up very well and at the final will be divided up between the winning league class winners. To qualify for the chance to compete you must have ridden the same horse/pony in the same class at least twice in the current league before the final.

For more details of this league and any of the other Laurel View activities can be viewed and reviewed on www.laurelview.co.uk

Results

Derby (3 of 5)

2.2.14

Claire Dobbin and “Louie” leap into 1st over the 60cm.

60cms – 1^st Louie, Claire Dobbin; 2^nd The Story Teller, Sasha Wilson; 3^rd Jarvis, Nicky McCrandle; 4^th Holiday Candlelight, Christine Murray.

70cms – 1^st Jill, Sarah Irwin; 2^nd Hatti, Megan Norton; 3^rd Foxi, Paula McIlwrath; 4^th The Castletown Lad, Miriam Wright; 5^th Colorado, Susan Sloan; 6^th Paddy, Gareth McClean.

85cms – 1^st Roo, Ella Boyle; 2^nd Ellie May, Jennifer McIlwrath; 3^rd Colours R Us, Mimi Joffroy; 4^th Schuey, Rachel Black; 5^th Ducky, Rachel Lambe; 6^th Jill, Sarah Irwin.

1m – 1^st Misty, Christina Rossbottom; 2^nd Roo, Ella Boyle; 3^rdDucky, Rachel Lambe; 4^th Ellie May, Jennifer McIlwrath.

Hats off to “Hattie” and Megan Norton, 60cm league winners – Photo by Equi-Tog

The final of the Outdoor Derby League took place at Laurel View on Sunday 22nd September. It was a fine day to finish the league out in the open; competitors came from round and about to tackle the twists and turns of the derby course.

Over the 60cm Megan Norton and Hatti rode a lovely clear round to secure them first in the class and first in the league. Danny ridden by Helen Faulkner was not far behind with 4 faults.

To decide the rosette order in the seventies jump offs were needed. With clear rounds over the full course it came down to speed to earn Lucy Stewart and Chardonnay, the red rosette ahead of Aleisha and Erin Faloona. This position also earned Lucy and Chardonnay the top league prize monies for the class.

A good strong 85cm, but none of the competitors were league qualifiers, so the only rosettes to compete for were the class ones. After jumping off against Sylvester and Erin Faloona, a clear lap gave Alfie and Alex Gordon the top spot.

Alex Gordon and Sox were the only clear pairing over the metre course, with Schuey and Rachel Black competing against Alfie and Keely McLarnon for the blue ribbon in the jump off. But as the only league qualifier forward, Keely and Alfie were no doubt pleased to take home the metre league prize fund.

Metre winners Sox and Alex Gordon – Photo by Equi-Tog

A round up derby results from August and September is detailed below, including those that pulled out all the stops to pick up the league prize monies.

Through the winter months, the Derby moves to the relative warmth of the indoor arenas, with the first leg of the league on the calendar for 1st December, what’s the chances that there might be a festive theme to the decorations? For further dates and details check out the competitions page at www.laurelview.co.uk for telephone enquiries hit 028 9083 0649 on your speed dial!

Results

Derby (4 of 5)
11.08.13

60cm – 1st Jeronamo, Emma Louise Gourley; 2nd Addy, Sophie McGuckin; 3rd Rodger, Ellan Jayne Hill; 4th Harry, Zoe Gilliland.

70cm – 1st Harry Hoot, Christine Burns;2nd Tiger Lily, Jean Topping; 3rd Brandy, Lois Armour; 4th Chardonnay, Lucy Stewart; 5th Laurel View Cindy, Simon Wylie.

Schuey and Rachel Black enjoy the route to second in the metre – Photo by Equi-Tog

85cm – 1st What A Wizard, Simon Wylie; 2nd Bella, Edana Butler; 3rd French Touch, John Reid; 4th The Cookie Monster, Ellen Jayne Hill; 5th Easter, Claire Bennet ; 6th Schuey, Rachel Black.

1m – 1st Alfie, Keely McLarnon.

Derby (5 of 5)
22.09.13

60cm – 1st Hatti, Megan Norton; 2nd Danny, Helen Faulkner; 3rd Beauty, Christine Hagan; 4th Addy, Sophie McGuckin.

70cm – 1st Chardonnay, Lucy Stewart; 2nd Aleisha, Erin Faloona; 3rd Fitz, Christine Cuthbertson; 4th Spice, Paula McIlwrath; 5th Phillip, Emma Fleming; 6th Diago, Nuala McNally.

85cm – 1st Alfie, Alex Gordon; 2nd Sylvester, Erin Faloona; 3rd Definitely Maybe, Emma McQuilkin; 4th The Cookie Monster, Ellen Jayne Hill; 5th Jenn, Sarah Topley; 6th Jimmy Choo, Roberta Bradbury.

1m – 1st Sox, Alex Gordon; 2nd Schuey, Rachel Black; 3rd Alfie, Keely McLarnon.

Derby League

60cm League – 1st Hatti, Megan Norton; 2nd Addy, Sophie McGuckin.

70cm League – 1st Chardonnay, Lucy Stewart; 2nd Fitz, Christine Cuthbertson; 4th Addy, Sophie McGuckin.

85cm League – No qualifiers forward.

1m – 1st Alfie, Keely McLarnon.