Spectacular Finale to Spring Connell Hill SJI Horse League
It was a most spectacular finale to the Spring SJI Horse League at Connell Hill as competitors arrived, after painstaking hours of preparation cleaning tack and grooming horses, to jump colourful tracks in the great outdoors. These colourful tracks, designed by Mr Will Crean, demanded control with concentrated riding skills on this first rate surface which has the added bonus of being set amidst the beautiful Antrim countryside. This show held spectators undivided attention as riders took each challenge with pride and dignity entering the arena and jumping ‘proficient’ rounds.
All competitors co-operated coherently during classes and patiently awaited as Will and arena crew adjusted fences and the surface prepared for their majestic equines to display their ability of jumping tracks artistically designed utilizing the vast arena area.
The 80 cm class kick started this glorious days jumping and, what a start to the day, Clare Spillane-Pattison pulled out all the stops and raced into first place on ‘Cor De La’ with hair splitting seconds for second and third place which saw Brian Smyth, snatch second on ‘Iroko Quarry Diamond’, Gillian Lee, third, on ‘Luidams Diamond’ fourth taken by Emma Barkley on ‘Tawnybrack Diamond’ and fifth Stephanie Doherty on ‘Beechmount Champ’. The course then promptly set for the 90 cm class saw Kevin Mackey, very neatly and swiftly jump into first place on ‘Neat Moonshadow’ with Stephanie Doherty on, her champion horse, ‘Beechmount Champ’ pick up a most deservedly second place, with again, hair splitting third and fourth timings Emma Barkley nipped into third on ‘Tawnybrack Diamond’ and Clare Spillane-Pattison on ‘Cor De La’ took fourth with Shannon Cole picking up fifth on ‘Casalena Me Amore’. The sun was out and the air was buzzing with excitement as the 1.0 m class got under way to see Noel McKee, dance away, with first place on ‘Keeford Sundance’, Brian Smyth on ‘Limmericks Quarry Gold’ picking up a well earned second and Martin McCloskey third on ‘Monastery Stud Golden Eye’. Noel really got the hang of this dancing as he once again took the honours of first place in the 1.10 m class on ‘Keeford Sundance’ with a very neatly placed second going to Paul Tang on ‘Neat Kaiser’, third to Alison McLean on ‘Shilow Natal’ and David Taylor fourth on ‘Cheberlinus T’. Competition was still very much in the air as it came to the final classes of the day and the 1.20 m class saw Alison McLean, claim victory on ‘Shilow Natal’ and Clare Sloan win the 1.30 m class on ‘Rose of Connaught’.
Connell Hill would, without reservation, like to thank Judges Mr David Greene, Mrs Janet Currie, Mrs Janet Liggett, Ms Heather Coyle, Mrs Nicola Tang and Miss Julie McLernon, Course Designer, Mr Will Crean, Arena Crew, and staff throughout this league and of course, you, the competitors, and grooms for your support without whom this league would not have been the success it was, Thank You. We welcome you all back for our next league starting next Saturday, 3rd May, and wish you all the best of good luck during the year.
*5 Week SJI Horse League* commencing Saturday 3rd May, 10th, 17th, 24th and final on 31st May at 10.00 am, classes 80 cm – 1.30 m.
Training Shows will continue outdoor on Friday nights commencing at 6.30 pm sharp, X-Poles – 1.10 m classes, where everyone will receive a warm welcome with café facilities for hot and cold drinks/snacks.
Further details contact Gillian on 078 03 178 009 or Grace 077 65 884 254.
RESULTS
80 cm: 1st Clare Spillane-Pattison – Cor De La, 2nd Brian Smyth – Iroko Quarry Diamond, 3rd Gillian Lee – Luidams Diamond, 4th Emma Barkley – Tawnybrack Diamond, 5th Stephanie Doherty – Beechmount Champ, Clare Spillane-Pattison – Little Task
90 cm: 1st Kevin Mackey – Neat Moonshadow, 2nd Stephanie Doherty – Beechmount Champ, 3rd Emma Barkley – Tawnybrack Diamond, 4th Clare Spillane-Pattison – Cor De La, 5th Shannon Cole – Casalena Me Amore, Kevin Mackey – CS Indian Moondust, Ursula Bamford – Ludovick
1.0 m: 1st Noel McKee – Keeford Sundance, 2nd Brian Smyth – Limmericks Quarry Gold, 3rd Martin McCloskey – Monastery Stud Golden Eye, Lucy Hanna – Greannanstown Cougar, Thomas Compton – Daingeann Sunday Spirit, Christina Compton – Kool Kavactor, Lisa Allen – Keeford Elamo, Kirsty Chambers – Lisbane Hulabaloo, David Taylor – CheberlinusR T, Laura J Wilson – Saffron Cruise, Lisa Allen – Diamond Dollie, Lucy Hanna – Rock Black and Blue, Helen Pearson-Murray – Cyrano Buttercup, Danielle Davison – Seapatrick Savanna Clover, Ursula Bamford – Ludovick
1.10 m: 1st Noel McKee – Keeford Sundance, 2nd Paul Tang – Neat Kaiser, 3rd Alison R McLean – Shilow Natal, 4th David Taylor – Cheberlinus T, Lisa Allen – Keeford Elamo, Helen Pearson-Murray – I Ain’t No Tinker, Laura Reid – Nonavic Temara, Ruairi Logue – Casual Z, Lisa Allen – Diamond Dollie,Connor Stewart – Achillea, Clare Sloan – Rose Of Lennon, Joanne Gibson – Seaview Lass, Sophie Adrain – Diamond Lux, Beverley Thompson – Vigo G, Thomas Compton – Daingeann Sunday Spirit, Joan Adrain – Chitchat, Lucy Hanna – Spring Rumba, Christina Compton – Kool Kavactor, Danielle Davison – Seapatrick Savanna Clover
1.20 m: 1st Alison R McLean – Shilow Natal, 2nd Helen Pearson-Murray – I Ain’t No Tinker, 3rd Kirsty Chambers – Wee Todd
1.30 m: 1st Clare Sloan – Rose Of Connaught
Category: News, Results, Show Jumping
