Success at North Down’s 75th Anniversary Event
Robyn McFadden winning Class 2b – 95cm under 18
On Monday 5th May 2014 North Down Pony Club held its 75th Anniversary One Day Event at Ballygraffan, Comber with the kind permission of J & J Burgess. The forecast wasn’t good but apart from a few light showers the day remained dry and windy, much to everyone’s relief. The competition ran very much to time thanks to all the competitors arriving for their various phases on time and to the sterling work done by the stewards keeping everything going smoothly.
Class 1 – 1.10m – was the smallest of the day with only 9 competitors but the competition was close at the end with just over 10 points separating the top 4 competitors. The top dressage score was Sarah Reid with a brilliant 15.6. The cross-country course was a challenging one but five of the nine people finished with a clean slate jumping, showing bravery and skill. However all had time penalties to add to their dressage and show jumping scores.
Lynne Ireland – Tennis, winner of the 1.10m class
Results: 1st Lynne Ireland-Tennis, 38.8; 2nd Holly Wray, 41.6; 3rd Toby Fynn, 46.0
Class 2a – 95cm over 18 – had 18 competitors who had mixed fortunes in all phases. The best dressage score was last to go Grainne Bennett on 24.0. Thirteen of the 18 were clear in the show jumping phase but the cross country caused a few problems. Only four, Eric Pele, Vicky Clegg, Rachel Hughes and Marina Stewart finished with no time penalties and fourteen went clear jumping.
Results: 1st Grainne Bennett, 24.4; 2nd Eric Pele, 31.2; 3rd Rachel Hughes, 33.6
Class 2b – 95cm under 18 – had 17 competitors. The best dressage came from Izzy Riley with 30.8 and nearly all went clear show jumping so a lot was resting on the cross country. Only four were inside the time – Ellen Erskine, Robyn McFadden, Harriet Pele and Jasmine Crothers. The jumping course caused a lot of problems with a couple of people being eliminated even though there were a number of L fences around the course.
Kathryn McCaughan who went on to win class 3b – 80cm under 18
Results: 1st Robyn McFadden, 39.6; 2nd Harriet Pele, 40.8; 3rd Aisling Monaghan, 43.8.
Class 3a – 80cm over 18 – was the biggest class with 30 riders. The best dressage score was Ashleigh Rea on a score of 23.3. The show jumping asked a lot of questions with only 14 competitors registering a clear round. The cross country also was problematic for a number of competitors and placings changed again. In the end only 2 marks separated the top three.
Results: 1st Kathryn Henderson, 25.8; 2nd Michael Boyd, 26.4; 3rd Ashleigh Rea, 27.5
Class 3b – 80cm under 18 – This was also a big class with 29 competitors. The best dressage score was Kathryn McCaughan on 30.4. Show jumping again asked a lot of questions with just over half the riders leaving all the poles in place. Equally in the cross country just under half went clear. Well done to the top three competitors who all finished on their dressage score.
Prize winners of class 1 with Lady Perdita Blackwood, Clandeboye and Lady Clark, Ballygowan Who very kindly came along to present prizes
Results: 1st Kathryn McCaughan, 30.4; 2nd Herbie Purse, 36.3; 3rd Joanna Eames, 37.1
North Down Pony Club would like to say thank you to all who helped in any way to ensuring the success of the day, all too numerous to mention. From fence building to fence painting, from car parking to food, from warm up to call up, from judging to scoring, from pole lifting to fence changing, from paperwork to tidy up, without all the help such a big event would not have been possible. The success of the day was tantamount to the slick and efficient way all those people carried out their jobs.
A big vote of thanks also goes to the many generous sponsors for their support as running such an event is an expensive business. We would ask you to support them in the future if you can.
A special thanks goes to all the past members and friends who came along to compete and help. It was great to have some of the ex DC’s present. Lady Perdita Blackwood, Mrs Liz Lowry and Mr Simpson Cochrane helped by Lady Clark presented many of the prizes. Mr David Williams, whose mother is credited to have been the founder of the branch and Mr Ernest McMillen, a Life Vice President of the Pony Club both called in during the day.
A full copy of the results can be found on the North Down website http://branches.pcuk.org/northdown and photographs can be found on the Prime Photography website.
