Autumn Pony Tour concludes at Portmore
Exciting end to another enjoyable Ulster Region show jumping league
The final of the TRI Equestrian Autumn Pony League took place at Portmore Equestrian Centre, Aghalee on Saturday, November 4 and Sunday, November 5 and proved to be an exciting and enjoyable end to another fantastic league.
The Ulster Region would like to take this opportunity to thank TRI Equestrian and Gareth McCombe for his continued generosity and support, also Mrs Shirley McCombe for her role in the presentation of prizes at the final. A word of thanks to the team at Portmore Equestrian for hosting the finals and ensuring the smooth running of the competitions over the two days.
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“TRI is delighted to support the Ulster Region Pony Tours. This is our eighth year as sponsor and we feel it is so important to encourage these talented young athletes. These Pony Tours are such a great springboard for our younger riders to gain competition experience, which they can carry forward - they are the stars of the future,” said Gareth McCombe, manager of TRI Lurgan.
“A great example of a Pony Tour graduate is international show jumper Niamh McEvoy. Not long ago, she was competing in these leagues and now she is having incredible success internationally!”
As always, the 128 pony competitors kicked off the proceedings in fine style and, from the very first athlete entered the arena, the atmosphere was electric. League placings were very much to the fore of everyone’s minds. Remember all results of the final day’s jumping are available on SJI Live!
In the league placings, Cooper McManus picked up first and fourth in the 50cm and then went on to get seventh in the 60cm class - a successful day for this young man. Harry Kelly (winner of the 60cm) and Jack Bell also picked up multiple placings in these two classes and Mark Brown collected a fifth place. However, the girls did not let the boys have it all their own way, with Poppy Coulter collecting three placings and Perrie Barkley, Cara Grant, Mary McBride and Zara Moore all featuring too.
Tim Morton had a busy day and was to feature in the 70cm, 80cm and U10 line ups, he collected the sash for winning the 70cm league aboard ‘Aghaderg Stepping Delight’. Tim then went on to be placed seventh in the 80cm and fifth in the U10 league. Ellie Baxter riding ‘Sparkling Class Act’ proved her consistency by taking runner-up in the 70cm class and sixth in the 80cm. Lacey McLaughlin aboard ‘C.S. Galileo’ was the proud winner of the 80cm, with Tara Ardbuckle and Tegan Mulgrew taking the other two podium places.
It was Alice Steele’s win and second place on the day that ensured her the top spot on the U10 league winners’ podium, with Caitie McEvoy and Chloe Clarke taking the other coveted podium spots. Elsie Tunney reigned supreme in the final two league competitions, finishing her season off by winning both the 90cm and 1m leagues. Charlotte Nelson took second in both these classes, with James Mellett third in the 90cm and Connaught athlete, Edward Walsh Jnr taking third in the 1m class.
The second day of the final started with the 138 80cm class and Carlie Cooke, aboard ‘Loughbeg Danny’, collected the top podium place, with Megan Louise Rouke on ‘Crosskeys Beauty’ and Jessica McGonigle riding her well turned out ‘Corlave Roisin Donn’ took third and the final podium spot. Carlie Cooke collected her second win and another sash in the 138 90cm competition, with Rebecca Coulter (second) on Sam’s Secret close on her heels this time. Arielle Allen made her first visit to the podium, picking up the third place aboard ‘D Drim’ De Brixia’, but she climbed higher on the podium in the 138 1m class, winning the sash and rug. Pippa Moore and Edward Walsh Jnr collected the next two places.
The 138 1.10m class was an exciting competition and league places were decided by points gained on the day. It was the speed merchant from the west, Edward Walsh, who won the class, but it was Caitlin Kelly who had the most points in the league table, which earned her prime position on the podium, collecting the winners sash and rug; a great way to end her last league on 138 ponies. Charlotte McCracken was runner up, while Sara Margery, who was consistently placed on ‘Sparkling Kiowa Moon’ throughout the league, took the third place.
The 148 classes were well supported and it was great to see new partnerships competing and gaining valuable experience. Emma McGillion, in her first season jumping SJI, won the 80cm league and was third in the 90cm league, riding the seasoned campaigner ‘Knockgraffon Girl’. The 90cm was won by Zara Smyth on ‘Rakish Talisman’, while Blaithin Boyle, Abbie Rose McGeady and Cara Garrity earned themselves a spot on the podium.
Gracie Bright and her ever-consistent ‘Monroe Star’ romped into the winning spot in the metre class, just ahead of Zoie Dobbin (‘Derryvane Belle’) and Zara Smyth. New names came to the fore in the 148 1.10m class and it was the turn of Brooke Rafferty to pick up the rug and sash, while Lucie McIlhatton and Katie Campbell were second and third respectively. Many of the competitors in the 148 1.20m class were competing in their final league, so the stakes were high, however, it was the younger athletes who claimed the top three places: Lily Tunney, Charlotte McCracken and Brooke Rafferty respectively.
Children on Horses/ Junior classes are always the last of the day and they generated quite the buzz. The penultimate class saw four combinations starting on equal league points and consequentially points on the day were vital. Taylor McKnight riding ‘Tassagh Sky Doctor’ proved her consistency by taking the win on the day and the league win. Second spot was taken by Rianna Mulligan on the talented young horse ‘Morene H’, with Darragh Murphy on ‘Top Ticket’ in third. The final class, the 1.10m was split into two sections for the purpose of league prizes and it was Lily Tunney who collected the sash and rug for the COH, with Adam Adair close on her heels and Zoe Mellet taking third. The Junior section saw a repeat of the top two places, as the metre class, but this time it was Hannah Thompson in the third place.
The Ulster Region Pony Committee are very proactive in promoting young ponies and developing new combinations and, with that in mind, it was decided to add additional young pony classes, to the 148 Six-/ Seven-year-old class, which was historically part of the TRI leagues. It proved to be a very popular decision.
It was a smashing conclusion to a well supported league and the SJI UR Pony Committee would like to thank all the athletes, and their back-up teams, for their continued participation and sportsmanship throughout the different legs of the league. Please remember to keep free Saturday, February 10 for the ever-popular Ulster Region Pony Awards Ball at Corrick House Hotel and Spa!
RESULTS
TRI Equestrian Autumn Pony League
128 50cm:
1) Cooper McManus, My Mr Barney B; 2) Perrie Barkley, Penanns Smurf; 3) Cara Grant, Lady Pokerface; 4) Cooper McManus, Byrne’s Choice; 5) Mary McBride, Chapel Lane Trigger; 6) Zara Moore, Heather Molly; 7) Harry Kelly, Dowhills Petite Fille; 8) Jack Bell, Sparkling Irish Whiskey.
128 60cm:
1) Harry Kelly, Dowhills Petite Fille; 2) Cara Grant, Lady Pokerface; 3) Poppy Coulter, Shanvally Lily; 4) Jack Bell, Sandra T; 5) Mark Brown, Longwood Grandpas Diamond; 6) Poppy Coulter, Millstone Flight; 7) Cooper McManus, My Mr Barney B; 8) Poppy Coulter, Julie Go Leor.
128 70cm:
1) Tim Morton, Aghaderg Stepping Delight; 2) Ellie Baxter, Sparkling Class Act; 3) Harry Kelly, Helas Babe; 4) Alyssa Smyth, MHS Nutcracker; 5) Sophie Johnston, Mighty Minion; 6) Lacey McLaughlin, CS Galileo; 7) Rory McBride, Creevelea Toy Soldier; 8) Poppy Coulter, Shanvally Lily.
128 80cm:
1) Lacey McLaughlin, CS Galileo; 2) Tara Arbuckle, Woodview Mr Majestic; 3) Tegan Mulgrew, Bluebell SJI; 4) Medb Kinney, Priah; 5) Rory McBride, Creevelea Toy Soldier; 6) Ellie Baxter, Sparkling Class Act; 7) Tim Morton, Parkhills Jackbequick; 8) Anna Rose Garrity, Thistledown Royal Academy.
Under 10s:
1) Alice Steele ; 2) Caitie McEvoy; 3) Chloe Clarke; 4) Harry Hannaway; 5) Tim Morton; 6) Megan Hannaway; 7) Katie McDonald.
128 90cm:
1) Elsie Tunney; 2) Charlotte Nelson; 3) James Mellett; 4) Edward Walsh Jnr; 5) Caitie McEvoy; 6) Tegan Mulgrew; 7) Katie McDonald; 8) Cliodhna McEvoy.
128 1m:
1) Elsie Tunney; 2) Charlotte Nelson; 3) Edward Walsh Jnr; 4) Chloe Clarke; 5) Serena Brown; 6) James Mellett; 7) Cliodhna McEvoy.
138 80cm:
1) Callie Cooke, Loughbeg Dunby; 2) Megan Louise Rouke, Crosskeys Beauty; 3) Jessica McGonigle, Corlave Roisin Donn; 4) Zoie Dobbins, Shorty Boy; 5) Rebecca Coulter, Sam’s Secret; 6) Emily Benson, Nefretiti; 7) Zac Hanna, Cynbrook Heiress; 8) Holly Savage, Ballyerk Cassy.
138 90cm:
1) Callie Cooke, Loughbeg Dunby; 2) Rebecca Coulter, Sam’s Secret; 3) Arielle Allen, D Drim’ De Brixia; 4) Emily Benson, Nefretiti; 5) Zoie Dobbins, Shorty Boy; 6) Cara Garrity, Boreton Cherokee; 7) Cliodhna McEvoy, Orchid’s Ameril; 8) Zac Hanna, Cynbrook Heiress.
138 1m:
1) Arielle Allen; 2) Pippa Moore; 3) Edward Walsh Jnr; 4) Caitlin Kelly; 5) Zoe Mellett; 6) Shaun Farren; 7) Cliodhna McEvoy; 8) Ellie Bingham.
138 1.10m:
1) Caitlin Kelly; 2) Elizabeth McCracken; 3) Sara Margey; 4) Edward Walsh Jnr; 5) Alexandria McMahon; 6) Adam Adair.
148 80cm:
1) Emma McGillion, Knockgraffon Girl; 2) Blaithin Boyle, Drumdoit V-Tec; 3) Abbie-Rose McGeady, Robyn’s April Song; 4) Lily Beatty, Newtown Melody; 5) Brianna McGuigan, Butter Cup II; 6) Cliodhna McEvoy, Potsbergls QT; 7) Orla Cusack, Carn Jukebox.
148 90cm:
1) Zara Smyth, Rakish Talisman; 2) Cara Garrity, Ballygarris Bui; 3) Emma McGillion, Knockgraffon Girl; 4) Shaun Farren, Creme Brulee; 5) Orla Nesbitt, SJ Caledonia; 6) Brianna McGuigan, Butter Cup II; 7) Blaithin Boyle, Drumdoit V-Tec'; 8) Lori Smith, Sonny Girl.
148 1m:
1) Gracie Bright, Monroe Star; 2) Zoie Dobbins, Derryvane Belle; 3) Zara Smyth, Rakish Talisman; 4) Cara Garrity, Ballygarris Bui; 5) Orla Nesbitt, Ard Oilean Bud; 6) Hannah Thompson, RMA Silver Dollar; 7) Shaun Farren, Creme Brulee; 8) Lucie McIlhatton, Prince Sparrow.
148 1.10m:
1) Brooke Rafferty; 2) Lucie McIlhatton; 3) Katie Campbell; 4) Emma Burns; 5) Tilley Tumilty; 6) Arielle Allen; 7) Johan Fitzpatrick Burns; 8) Zoe Keys.
148 Six-/ Seven-year-old 1.10m:
1) Lucie McIlhatton; 2) Johan Fitzpatrick Burns; 3) Caitlin Rafferty; 4) Lily Tunney; 5) Amy Coleman; 6) Elizabeth McMahon; 7) Helen Walsh; 8) Oliver Kinnear.
148 1.20m:
1) Lily Tunney; 2) Charlotte McCracken; 3) Brooke Rafferty; 4) Zoe Keys; 5) Katie Campbell; 6) Grace Hamill; 7) Sophia Bingham; 8) Johan Fitzpatrick Burns.
Children On Horses Junior 1m:
1) Taylor McKnight, Tassagh Sky Doctor; 2) Rianna Mulligan, Morene H; 3) Darragh Murphy, Top Tikket; 4) Hannah Thompson, Neat Regina; 5) Eimear Farrell, Oos Zena; 6) Emma Bratton, Iceman van Wittenberg; 7) Gracie Bright, Boleybawn Reval; 8) Emma Burns, Mn Ami Alme.
Children On Horses Junior 1.10m/ 1.20m:
1) Taylor McKnight; 2) Rianna Mulligan; 3) Hannah Thompson; 4) Darragh Murphy; 5) Emma Bratton; 6) Alex McMaster.
Children On Horses 1.10m/ 1.20m:
1) Lily Tunney; 2) Adam Adair; 3) Zoe Mellett.
Show jumping Ireland Young Pony Series League
128 Six-/ Seven-year-old:
1) Katie McDonald, Loughview Pebbles; 2) Charlotte Nelson, Sugar Dolly; 3) Chloe Clarke, Gwennick Hopestown Flyer.
138 Four-/ Five-year-old:
1) Elizabeth McCracken, Drumree Willow; 2) Zac Hanna, Cynbrook Heiress; 3) Zoie Dobbins, Shorty Boy.
138 Six-/ Seven-year-old:
1) Edward Walsh, Burnal Skipper; 2) Caitlin Kelly, Lurghanmore Little Rocket; 3) Adam Adair, Fardross.
148 Four-/ Five-year-old:
1) Orla Nesbitt, Ard Oilean Bud; 2) Abbie-Rose McGeady, Robyn’s April Song; 3) Oliver Kinnear, Little Mr Tattersalls.
148 Six-/ Seven-year-old:
1) Lily Tunney, Correlli Clover; 2) Lucie McIllhatton, Prince Sparrow; 3) Caitlin Rafferty, Little Diamond.