Double Show Jumping Success For Downshire Riding Club
Katie King and Colonel Gun- winners of the Senior Intermediate SJ at the NIRC Indoor Championships
Portmore Equestrian Centre was the place to be on Saturday 24th January where NIRC held their annual Indoor Individual Show Jumping Championships. Downshire were well represented in all the Senior competitions and Joanna McNamee was the first Club rider to go in the Novice on her lovely grey Arctic Moon but unfortunately had a couple of poles down . Rebekah Hanna riding Tullamore Dew also had faults but the experience will have brought encouragement to this partnership. Unluckiest of all the Downshire riders in this class was new member Lisa Spratt on her talented young horse Coolcorran Cool Imp who jumped a super clear first round but were very unlucky to catch a pole in the second round. So no Downshire riders made the jump off , however things were about to change !
Lisa Spratt and Rockmount Sasha runners up in the Senior Open SJ
Katie King and her first ride in the Intermediate Competition- Drumnagally Cruise had an unfortunate 4 faults but she more than made up for this with her ever reliable Colonel Gun. A very accomplished double clear got her into the jump off and she duly produced the fastest clear round of the day to take the Senior Intermediate Show Jumping title.
The fences were then raised to 1.10 in the Senior Open Class and Downshire were well represented with 3 competitors. Nikki Cullen was the first Downshire rider to try the demanding course and produced a lovely double clear on Danske Coevers Lass. She was followed by Lisa Spratt on her very reliable mare Rockmount Sasha and so a jump off was assured. Katie King and Roc Treddudon had unfortunate faults but did enough to secure a very respectable 5th place. Nikki and Lisa were the only two double clears and the team mates gave no quarter in a thrilling jump off with Nikki prevailing in the end with a very fast clear round.
Nikki Cullen and Danske Coevers Lass winner of the Senior Open SJ
So a very rewarding Indoor Show Jumping Championships for Downshire Riding Club which can only auger well for the competitive year ahead. Thank you to all the competitors and to those Club members who helped on the day and a special thank you to the supporters and to the Chef D’Equipe Sharon Cullen who was very ably assisted by Christine Armstrong and Danielle Cullen. Thanks also Avril Hall-Callaghan and Catherine Murray of Portmore Riding Club who had a long day judging and to Betty Gaston and all those others including the course builders who ensured the day ran as smoothly as it did.
Downshire meet on Thursday nights at Danescroft Equestrian Centre and have a full programme of events and lessons. Full details can be found on the Club website www.downshireridingclub.com. New members are most welcome.
Category: News, Results, Show Jumping
