Sunday, December 30, 2012

The Western Regional Round up January 2013



The North West autumn show jumping League
The trio of riding clubs in Donegal held a North West autumn show jumping league, the shows were well attended by the Donegal clubs and the overall winner of the primary competition was Louise Edwards from Letterkenny.  The Advanced primary was won by Rudi Schneider, in second place Tommy McGinnly and third place Laurence Smith all from Donegal Gaeltacht, in fourth place Fionnaula Coughlan from Tirconal, in fifth place Christopher Pyper and in sixth place Orla Moore both from Letterkenny.  The Intermediate Class was won by Anne Chambers from Letterkenny, in second place was Carla McGinley from Donegal Gaeltacht, in third and fourth was Mona and Charlie Vial from Tirconal, and in fifth and sixth was Rachel and Ruth McCrossen from Donegal Gaeltacht.  The advanced Intermediate and above classes was won by Joanne Cuffe from Letterkenny, in second place was Damian Gallagher from Letterkenny in third place was Patricia Warren from Donegal Gaeltacht. In fourth, fifth and sixth place was Cormack McCormack all from Letterkenny!
Benbulben Riding Club Show 18 November 2012
The morning was very cold & frosty but that did nothing to deter the brave Riding Club members who travelled from all over the Region to attend.
The Primary Show Jumping was the first competitive class of the day and this was won by Miriam Mangan of Benbulben on board Jessie Kildalton Delight with Dawn Porter, also from Benbulben on My Handsome Chap taking second spot.
Next up was the Advanced Primary Show Jumping, which was a very competitive class. Top spot eventually went to Donegal Gaeltacht’s Lawrence Smyth on Jennys Jigsaw, with Corrib’s Janna Duane on Fair Lady in second, Caroline Clancy from Springmount on Sliabh Cuilin Diamond in third, Liam Stapleton from Tynagh in fourth, Corrib’s Colm Kelly in fifth & Mary McMahon from Benbulben in sixth.
Then it was time for the Advanced Primary Derby, which was won by Janna Duane on Fair Lady from Corrib, with Liam Stapleton and Lady Tessa from Tynagh in second and Lawerence Smyth from Donegal Gaeltach in third on Jennys Jigsaw, forth & fifth went to John Miland & Dermot Goode both from Dalysgrove, while Corrib’s Colm Kelly took sixth place.
The Intermediate & Above Derby was next & this proved to be the biggest class of the day. The home side done well in this class with Benbulben taking a 1,2,3 with John McDermott & Kyleen Ricardo in first, Myles McGowan with Journeyman in second and Gwen McDermott on Coneyview Clyde in third, fourth place went to Dalysgrove’s Kevin Clogher, with Finola Murphy & Sharon McGowan taking fifth & sixth place for Benbulben.
This was followed by the Intermediate Show Jumping, which was another very competitive class in conditions that were far from ideal. The bad weather was no obstacle however for Benbulben’s Rachel Burke who took first place on Rookery Blue, Dalysgrove’s Kevin Clogher on Moylogha Bird had to be content with second place, while Sharon McGowan and Something’s Got To Give took third for Benbulben, Benbulben members also took the remainder of the spoils in this class with Glyn Morgan in fourth, Edwina Ruane in fifth and Anna Burke, who had the fastest time of the class but was unlucky to have one fence on the floor in sixth.
Benbulben riders also dominated the Advanced Intermediate class taking all the ribbons Kean O’Hara was first with Ted of Annaghmore, Diarmuid Lang & KB Murphy were second, third went to Myles McGowan on Journeyman, John McDermott was fourth, Louise O’Hara fifth & Fiona Tansey sixth.
Benbulben’s Vanessa McDonald had the Open class all to herself and took the honours there with Vanessa’s Pride.
Western Region National Annual Round up!
What a year it’s been for the west at the National competitions,
National hunter trials in Flower Hill on the 15 April
Enda McClafferty and Paudric McCoy from Letterkenny winning the AP pairs, in third place was Roundtower’s Emma Kennedy and Fiona Burke, in fourth place was Benbulben’s Glyn Morgan and Clodagh Doggett.  Winning the AP championship was Steven Carty from Benbulben, in fourth place Rudy Schneider from Donegal Gaeltact, in fifth place Dalysgrove John Miland, and sixth place Letterkenny’s Enda McClaffety!  The highest placed intermediate pairs was Leo Porter and Marina Hamilton from Letterkenny in fourth place and in sixth place from Letterkenny Damien Gallagher and Francis McNichols.  The Intermediate championships was won by Benbulben’s Joanna Kerins, and Letterkenny’s Marina Hamilton in third, Damien Gallagher in fifth and Libby Calton in sixth.
Once again the west took plenty of rosettes home in the mixed pairs with Donegal Gaeltacht’s Laura Schneider and Sally Mahon in second place, and Benbulben’s  Daire Diver and Derek Kane in fourth and Brendon Dolan and Deirdre McDonald in fifth.  The Advanced intermediate championship was also dominated by the west’s achievements Thomas Danials from Tynagh, Daire Diver from Benbulben and Alan Briscoe from Balinasloe all in the prizes, Sally Mahon from Donegal Gaeltacht won the open championship, with Brendon Dolan from Benbulben in second and Laura Schneider in third!  What a great day for the west!!!
Riding Clubs Festival June 9 and 10
During the weekend the biggest amateur event in Ireland took place at Stradbally Hall Estate, County Laois.  The weather stayed well for the campers and everyone had a good time.  Donna Murray was third in her section of the advanced primary dressage and then sixth overall. A combination of clubs was second in the advanced primary team show jumping, Janna Duane and Liam Cahill from Corrib, Martina Heffernan from Misneach and Cathriona Goaley from Springmount did a brilliant job despite one rider not jumping!  In third place another mixture of clubs from Mayo and Donegal with Adrian Corcoran and Philip Byrne from Barnacarrol and Lawrence Smyth and Rudy Schneider from Donegal Gaeltacht.  In sixth place, from Benbulben Clodagh Dogget, Katy McAleen, Mary McMahon and Therese Anderson.  The Horsewear team challenge Wildcard team was from Benbulben and Fiona Kiernan, Fiona Tansey, Edwina Ruane and John McDermott were third.  In the intermediate jumping Gavin Keenan was second and Sarah Gaughan was third.  Lizzie Naughton from Roundtower won the side saddle class and was fifth in the riding horse over 158cm.  Katherine O’Brian was second in the Coloured horse class upto 158cm and Petra Anne Hewer from Roundtower was fifth.  Niamh Maken won the long arena dressage, mother and daughter team from Benbulben Anna and Rachel Burke was second in the fancy dress pairs, and also from Benbulben Edwina Ruane, Gavin Keenan, Joanna Kerins and Finola Murphy won the intermediate team show jumping.  Deidre McDonald won the open take your own line – also from Benbulben. 
National Show Jumping Championships 15 July
On the 15 July Mullingar Equestrian Centre played host to the National Show Jumping Championships, a great day was had by all!  Dalysgrove had the first rosette of the day in the Advanced open championships with Elaine Murphy coming second!  In the open championships there was fierce competition between Benbulben twins Vanessa and Deirdre McDonald but Vanessa had the winning streak on the day and won.  Benbulben’s Gavin Keenan knocked 2 seconds of the fastest time and won the Intermediate class, with Edwina Ruane also Benbulben in third, Paula Cosgrove from Ballinasloe in forth place and Sharon McGowan from Benbulben in fifth.  Once again the west dominated the advanced primary championships with Springmounts Cathriona Goaley taking first prize and Christine McWilliams from Corrib in second place.  In the Primary championships Niamh Macken and Monica Heggarty took home fifth and sixth rosettes.
The open derby class was won by Deirdre McDonald, Donegal Gaeltacht’s Connor Gallagher took second place, and Vanessa McDonald was sixth.  Once again the west won the advanced intermediate class with Myles Mcgowan from Benbulben taking the red rosette and Kelly Fergus also Benbulben taking the yellow one!  The west had placings in the intermediate derby with Edwina Ruane in third and Finola Murphy also from Benbulben in sixth place.  The ap accumulator was won by the evergreen Lawrence Smith from Donegal Gaeltacht, Christine McWilliams in second, Melinda Morgan from Benbulben in third and Cathriona Goaley in fifth.  Niamh Macken won the primary accumulator and Benbulben’s new comer Dawn Porter took home the sixth rosette.
National Dressage Championships Kilkenny 12 August 2012
Well done to Donna Murray from Dalysgrove who was second in the advanced primary section.
Masters Series Final 16 August 2012
Edwina Ruane won the intermediate welcome stakes and Vanessa McDonald won the open and advanced open welcome stakes for Benbulben.  Finola Murphy was fourth in the intermediate table C speed class.  Thomas Daniels from Tynagh was fourth in the advanced intermediate table C speed class.  Deirdre McDonald from Benbulben was second in the open and advanced open table C speed class.  In the intermediate grand prix Edwina was second and Finola was third, the advanced intermediate grand prix Fiona Tansey from Benbulben was fifth.  In the open and above grand prix Vanessa McDonald was third. 
National One Day Event Championship Carlow 2nd September 2012
The one day event championship was attended by a handful of western members but they made it onto the results table.  Well done to Laura Schneider from Donegal Gaeltacht who was second in the open competition, Derek Kane who was sixth in the advanced intermediate competition, and Donna Murray from Dalysgrove who was fourth in the advanced primary competition.
Well done to all members, riders and volunteers this year, it’s been a good one, lets hope next year can be just as good!
Don’t forget to get your tickets for the dinner dance held in Balinasloe at the Calton shearwater hotel.  Tickets available from your secretary! 
Dalysgrove dressage league starts on the 20th January 2013 so plenty of time to get into shape after Christmas!
I would like to wish everyone a very merry Christmas and a happy new year…