Monsoon conditions, but equestrians do their best to keep going
Wind and rain ramping up as Storm Ciaran approaches, but weekend activities as busy as ever
Hello everyone,
Another week and another storm seems to be ramping up… The weather really has been so changeable and so horribly wet! It hasn’t been a great spell for outdoor activities of any nature, but if you’re out on a horse in one of those downpours, you just have to keep going. Fair play to all of you who have been riding and schooling in these monsoon conditions; your dedication deserves a huge pat on the back!
As it was the weekend before the Hallowe’en half-term break, it was a busy one and this Horse&Field newsletter brings you the first instalment of results and pictures (including some fancy dress ones!) from local equestrian activities, as well as information on forthcoming events.
The past week saw Hallowe’en Shows being held at Connell Hill, Randalstown and Ecclesville, Fintona; Hagans Croft, Bailiesmills held the final of their Working Hunter League and NIF Qualifiers; Dressage Ireland Northern Region held a very successful show at Danescroft, Lisburn, which incorporated the HSI Development Series classes, whilst The Meadows, Lurgan held not only Cash Back Jumping, but also Cash Back Dressage!
Just a reminder that if you’re not riding this weekend, the Festival of Racing is on at Down Royal and is always a great day out (or two!).
The Horse&Field calendar lists local equine activities and is updated on a daily basis. We are trying to make the calendar as comprehensive as possible, so if you know of any events that aren’t yet listed, please let us know!
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Enjoy!
In the news
Please see below links to the most recent stories and results on Horse&Field.
Just click on each story to read the article and see more photos:
A magical day of jumping at Connell Hill Hallowe’en Show
Connell Hill, Randalstown, hosted a Hallowe’en Training Show on Saturday, October 28 and it proved to be a magical day! The cross-poles class proved as popular as ever, kicking off with Thomas and Amelia Forbes jumping well with ‘Sparky’ and ‘BoBo’ respectively, hotly contested by Lily Crawford on ‘Candy Pops’ and Megan Riddell riding ‘Sparky’. Amongst o…
Successful Hallowe’en Show for Ecclesville
The Ecclesville team were delighted with the turnout of competitors for their Hallowe’en Show on Friday, October 27. Some riders got into the Hallowe’en spirit by wearing spooky costumes and, in some cases, even getting their ponies decorated for the occasion!
True Working Hunters out at Hagans Croft Final
Saturday, October 28 saw the final of Hagans Croft’s Working Hunter League and NIF qualifiers. The arena had been prepped on Friday, with the course set up and dressed out with extra foliage, however, with overnight torrential rain, it was unsure as to whether the competition would go ahead… With an additional water complex, horses and riders had an ext…
Double win for Ashley at Danescroft
Dressage Ireland Northern Region extend their thanks to Danescroft Equestrian Centre, Lisburn for the fantastic venue for their latest show on Saturday, October 21. Thanks also go to the judges, Dermot Cannon, Corey Mawhinney and Coreen Abernethy for the great feedback. Also, a big thank you to the photographer, Ellie Johnston Photography.
Cash Back competitions at The Meadows
The Meadows Equestrian Centre, Lurgan had a busy day on Saturday, October 21, as they held Cash Back competitions in both show jumping and dressage. There were some impressive dressage tests ridden and accomplished rounds jumped, captured in pictures by Tori O’Connor Photography.
SOUND BITE: ‘Envoi Allen’ and ‘Minella Indo’ both entered for Grade 1 Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal
Trainer Henry De Bromhead has entered both ‘Envoi Allen’ and ‘Minella Indo’ for Saturday’s Grade 1 Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal, which is the first Grade 1 race of the season in Ireland and England. Saturday's feature takes place on day two of the Festival of Racing at Down Royal, with the first day taking place this Friday.