A spooky day at Lusk’s!
Pumpkin and witch-adorned fences provide challenges at Hallowe'en Derby
Lusk Equestrian, near Lisburn, held their Hallowe’en Derby on Sunday, October 27, with a 15-fence course including two doubles, one treble - the devil’s dyke - and a quadruple, which included the bank and Derby rails, with fences adorned with pumpkins and witches, and even skeletons!
There were competitors walking the course from Friday, with discussions of how they would ride the four elements of the Derby bank and rails.
It was also interesting that, on Sunday evening, not one person had knocked the Derby rails and 90 per cent of competitors were faultless at the bank complex!
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The 1m class produced only three clear rounds to jump off against the clock for the prizes. First to go was Jason McKeown with ‘Shiraz’ looking so impressive to claim top spot. He went round in a blistering time, but was shocked to hear Denise announce ‘Elimination’, as he had missed fence six…
Rachel McCaughey and ‘Ardglen Stardust’ had a great try, but lowered one pole to finish on four faults. It was left to Max McDonnell and ‘Knocklucas Chloe’ to do the sensible thing and go round clear to claim the first rosette.
The 85cm class produced seven clears in the first round, which looked sure for an exciting jump-off. Lesley Coey and ‘Alfie’, first to go, went round in an unbelievable time of 35.85 seconds, loudly encouraged by her boyfriend Rory, who was trying to video on the sideline. Try as the next six riders would, no one could better Lesley’s time.
Wendy Findlay and ‘Pebbles’ came closest with a clear in 36.23, while Karina McVeigh on ‘Cococabana’, so aptly dressed with a pumpkin hat, took third spot in 37.31.
The 70cm class, like the 1m, only produced three clears, one of which was Kirsty Jackson and ‘Dani’, who had to withdraw from the jump-off, as children duties called her home. It was left to Ella Morrison and ‘Indie’, who jumped a beautiful clear with some great turns, to claim the top spot, to the great excitement of mum and dad, Karen and Nick.
A Dressage series is the next event at Lusk’s starting on Sunday, November 10, with entries as usual to Sarah on 07840 117132.
RESULTS
Sunday, October 27
Class 1 - 1m:
1) Max McDonnell, Knocklucas Chloe; 2) Rachel McCaughey, Ardglen Stardust; 3) Jason McKeown, Shiraz.
Class 2 - 85cm:
1) Lesley Coey, Alfie; 2) Wendy Findlay, Pebbles; 3) Karina McVeigh, Cococabana; 4) Martha McMurray, Willow; 5) Jim McShane, Denzil; 6) Neil Morrison, George.
Class 3 - 70cm:
1) Ella Morrison, Indie; 2) Lexi Wallace, Frankie; 3) Kirsty Jackson, Dani.
