Two-phase and Tetrathlon triumph for Mid Antrim Pony Club

Annual Open Two-Phase competition saw a great turnout and plenty of sunshine

Mid Antrim Branch of the Pony Club welcomed over 140 competitors to their annual Open Two-Phase competition at the sunny Laurel View Equestrian Centre, Templepatrick, on Saturday, May 10. This year, there was the added excitement of a Pony Club Tetrathlon competition, meaning an extra class out on the main cross-country course, as well as a beautifully dressed 40cm and 60cm “Mighty Minis” competition in the daisy fields alongside the laneway into Laurel View.

Used to contending with the rain, it took everyone by surprise this year when there was three weeks of unbroken sunshine in the lead up to the competition, meaning a few extra adjustments were required before organisers could safely welcome all of the wonderful competitors.

Tetrathlon competitor Lexa Clark (Mid Antrim) was a joint winner in the 40cm Arena Cross-country class at the Mid Antrim Open Two-phase competition at Laurel View.

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The Laurel View Duo, Andy and Tommy, did a brilliant job as always of preparing and dressing the cross-country course, meaning the 70cm, 80cm, 90cm and 1m competitors had a great selection of fences to enjoy, from the extra wide coffin and the new green rollers, to the water splash and the three bears’ cottages!

Not to be outdone, Norma Wylie and team designed and dressed the most beautiful arena cross-country course for the Mighty Minis, with greenery on every fence, an abundance of colourful flowers, and fences to waken up even the most experienced of ponies, from pipes and skinnies, to keyholes and brush fences!

Toby Callion and ‘Sonny’ were joint winners in the 60cm Arena Cross-country class at the Mid Antrim Open Two-phase at Laurel View.

On the day, the amazing team of volunteers welcomed competitors and kept the event running smoothly and to schedule. This was the first year hosting the two-phase without the branch’s captain George Graham, who sadly passed away in February. George was Honorary President of Mid Antrim and had been the driving force and chief organiser of the Annual Two-Phase for more than 20 years - in his younger years, he would coordinate the running of the competition, and then signal the end of the day by taking his trusty hunter, ‘Finnbar’, out last on the cross-country course, being cheered home by the wonderful fence judges. The success of the event this year is a credit to George, with his talent for efficiency and the super team of volunteers he helped put together.

Lizzy Rankin and ‘Tony The Pony’ won Section A of the 80cm class at the Mid Antrim Open Two-phase at Laurel View.

After everything was packed away on Saturday, the team had to take a deep breath and re-pack the cars to head to the Joey Dunlop Leisure Centre on Sunday for the running, shooting and swimming phase of the Tetrathlon competition! The sun was once again shining and the Tetrathlon volunteers pulled out all the stops to run another swift and efficient competition, with competitors enjoying a lovely prize giving ceremony for all classes at the end of the day, with lots of beautiful rosettes prepared by Sylvia Thompson.

Jessica Smyth and ‘Autumns Gold’ won the 70cm class at the Mid Antrim Open Two-phase at Laurel View.

Mid Antrim are indebted to everyone who made these events possible, from the hardworking team at Laurel View to the phenomenal Pony Club volunteers: the catering and scoring team, the call up and Show Jumping judges, the Mighty Mini team, the commentators, controllers, road marshals, cross-country starters, the massive team of cross-country judges and, of course, the Area 17 Tetrathlon team. The Branch couldn’t do it without each and every one of you.

Catherine Beattie and ‘Cloonlee Red River’ won Section B of the 80cm class at the Mid Antrim Open Two-phase at Laurel View.

Organisers would also like to extend sincere thanks to all of the competitors and to the generous sponsors, Clonkeen Equestrian, Equi-Tog and Henry Brothers; the prizes and photographs were out of this world!

Mid Antrim can’t wait to welcome everyone back again next year!

RESULTS

Saturday, May 10

Mid Antrim two-phase

Arena XC 40cm:

=1) East Antrim, Penelope Robinson (Tet); East Antrim, Lily Crawford (Tet); East Antrim, Adalyn Wallace (Tet); East Antrim, Elsie Crawford (Tet); Mid Antrim, Lexa Clarke (Tet); Lil Turbo, Grace Currie; Jack, Rebecca Thompson; Lily, Carter Greeves; Smokegun, Zara Moore; Monard School Boy, Libby Healy; Misty, Grace McCafferty.

Tetrathlon competitor Penelope Robinson (East Antrim) was a joint winner in the 40cm Arena Cross-country class at the Mid Antrim Open Two-phase at Laurel View.

Arena XC 60cm:

=1) East Antrim, Harlow Robinson (Tet); Killultagh Old Rock & Chichester Harriers, Saffron Irwin (Tet); Iveagh, Annie Crawford (Tet); Seskinore Harriers, Rosie Clarke (Tet); Miss Midge, Holly McCarroll; Sonny, Toby Callion.

70cm Two-phase:

1) Autumns Gold, Jessica Smyth; 2) Drumeagle Moonlite Eclipse, Rebecca Sheridan; 3) Silver Pebble, Eva McCafferty; 4) Sam, Amira Greeves; 5) Cindy, Eboni Rutledge; 6) Dominoes Way, Lucy Kirkwood.

Rebecca Sheridan and ‘Drumeagle Moonlite Eclipse’ placed second in the 70cm class at the Mid Antrim Open Two-phase at Laurel View.

80cm Two-phase - Section A:

1) Tony The Pony, Lizzy Rankin; 2) Jeffrey, Zoe Caskey; 3) Oran’s Roseanna, Kristianne Lyttle; 4) Iveagh, Jessica Clarke (Tet); 5) Halleys Hero, Oriann Mayne; 6) Bud, Freya Bevan.

Zoe Caskey and ‘Jeffrey’ were runners-up in Section A of the 80cm class at the Mid Antrim Open Two-phase at Laurel View.

80cm Two-phase - Section B:

1) Cloonlee Red River, Catherine Beattie; 2) Carna Lady, Rebekah Walker; 3) Ballylurgan Classique, Sofie Weir; 4) Lulu, Jamie-Leigh Mackenzie; 5) Nero, Kacey Foster; 6) Jeeves, Katie Watt.

Rebekah Walker and ‘Carna Lady’ were runners-up in Section B of the 80cm class at the Mid Antrim Open Two-phase at Laurel View.

90cm Two-phase:

1) Luna, Lorna Costelloe; 2) Mano of Deerpark, Holly Blythe; 3) Seapatrick Dee Dee, Chloe Baxter; 4) Clonminch Sally, Sofie Halcrow; 5) TBC, Kym Moore; 6) Iveagh, Annabelle Clarke (Tet).

1m Two-phase:

1) Munie Endeavour, Katy Hunter; 2) Iveagh, Harry Purdy (Tet).

Katy Hunter and ‘Munie Endeavour’ won the 1m class at the Mid Antrim Open Two-phase at Laurel View.