Great Competition for Route Hunter Trials at Maddybenny
Maddybenny Riding Centre Portrush was the venue for Hunter Trials run by The Route Hunt on Sunday 5th October. Although cold and a bit windy the rain stayed off so all were happy enough with the weather conditions. In the 75cm class there were 18 competitors, 22 in the 85 cm class 7 in the 95cm class and 20 in the pairs class. The course designed and built by Fred White with help from Philip White and Jonny Butler and other hunt members and friends was first class with a few tight turns and some tricky fences to test horses and riders. Not all completed the course successfully with faults being picked up by some riders for not clearing the fence at the first attempt, some falling off which lead to elimination, some with steering problems which added faults to their scores and some missing fences or jumping the wrong fence. While this disheartened a few riders all returned home without needing ambulance assistance.
Spirits were high amongst the competitors as all were wanting to win the cash prizes for 1st to 3rd places in the 75cm, 85cm and 95cm classes and the rosettes for 1st to 6th places as well as horse wear items for the pairs class.
Thanks goes to Philip & Fred White and their team of volunteers for building a great course and to Eavan White for her help on the day and with the organisation of the day. Thanks also goes to those who volunteered on the day as fence judges, scorers, time keepers, starters and secretaries and to the competitors who attended the event especially those who had travelled a distance to Maddybenny. A big thanks goes to the Sponsors for the day :- Jazz Horses Coleraine and Lee Johnston Farrier Coleraine for the £150 prize money for the 95cm class, Gormley Medicare Limavady for the £100 prize money for the 85cm class and The Lodge Hotel Coleraine for the £100 prize money for the 75cm class and C Richmond Country Store Coleraine for the leather head collars, stirrups and numnahs for the pairs class. Without the generosity of these people it would be impossible to run this event so remember to support those who support us.
The Route Hunt hope to run Hunter Trials again in 2015 so keep an eye on the Route Hunt facebook page for this and other events that will take place and come and join in the fun or volunteer to help at the events or even sponsor a class and get involved with your local hunt.
For further details please contact the Hunt Secretary (Julie Smyth 07793209899)
RESULTS
75cm Class
1st Emma Wright on Blue
2nd Rosemary Moffett on Mo
3rd Frank O’Neill on Arthur
4th Rachel Kelly on Micky
5th Vicky Slater on Joy
6th Jessica Houston on Paddy
85cm Class
1st Geraldine Parker on Milo
2nd Philip White on Humphrey
3rd Fiona Thompson on Ronnie
4th Aimee McCaw on Brook
5th Philip White on Sandy
6th Luke Porter on Penny
95cm Class
1st Jamie Sloan on Cally
2nd Lisa Boyle on Bannside Boy
3rd Aoife Carr on Splash
4th Philip White on Humphrey
5th Philip White on Sandy
6th Joe Hamilton on Gerry
75cm Pairs
1st Rachel Kelly on Micky & Emma Wright on Blue
2nd Niamh Carr on Magic & Sam Woodrow on Bobby
3rd Kate Geoghegan on Vicky & Jade McClafferty on Bacardi
4th Alison Kyle on Dirty Harry & Colin Thom on The Gymnast
5th Alex Greer on Phoenix Spark & Chloe Wright on Flash
6th Hannah Thomson on Sophie & Kirsty Thom on Nathan