Winter League finale brings excitement to Meadows' new year jumping

Unregistered show jumping kicks off at Lurgan venue, alongside postponed league final

A frosty air greeted riders to the first show of 2025 at the Meadows Equestrian Centre, Lurgan, as their unregistered show kicked off the new year on Saturday, January 4.

In addition, the postponed Winter League final, delayed from December, also took place and brought an air of excitement to proceedings.

Ellie Osbourne and ‘Bella’, winners of the 80cm Winter League at The Meadows. PICTURES: courtesy of Tori O’Connor

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Winning the Starter Stakes league was young rider Emma Hannaway. Having attended all weeks, Hannaway with her pony ‘Hippo’, gave a lovely double clear to take home the first MEC rug of the day.

In the 50cm, with 10 combinations in the class, it was all to play for and rising to the top was Lucy Davidson with her piebald pal, ‘Puzzle’. The 60cm class saw Charlotte Courtanage and ‘Lilly’ take home the winner’s rug, despite having an unfortunate pole on the day.

Lucy Davidson and ‘Puzzle’, winners of the 50cm Winter League at The Meadows.

In the 70cm class, time became a deciding factor, that culminated in some very fast rounds. None faster than Harry Hannaway, where ‘Hippo’ picked up his second rug of the day. Meanwhile, in the 80cm, ‘Bella’ and Ellie Osborne ensured the league win, as she placed first in the class, after stopping the clock in 27.72 seconds.

Marina Stewart and ‘Troy’ were the winners of the 90cm class, when she beat the other 12 combinations to finish in pole position. In the 1m league, Samantha Hanna was crowned the winner with her horse ‘Nova’.

To complete the jumping, long-time supporter of the Meadows, Trudie McCoosh took home the winner’s rug in the 1.10m class.

RESULTS

Saturday, January 4

New Year show jumping

Cross-Poles:

=1) Emma Hannaway, Hippo; Ruby Will, Ben; Olivia Ward, Oscar; Sophia Montgomery, Limited Edition Freddo.

Emma Hannaway and ‘Hippo’, jumping clear in the cross-poles class at The Meadows.

50cm:

=1) Ross Will, Rocco; Lauren Boyd, Brave; Lucy Davidson, Puzzle; Grace Kilpatrick, Frankie; Charlotte Courtanage, Lilly; Darcy Patton, Bambi; Heidi Patton, Jumbo.

60cm:

Ross Will, Rocco.

70cm:

1) Harry Hannaway, Hippo; 2) Sienna Doherty, Duffy; 3) Courtney Lynch, Take Two; 4) Sienna Doherty, Bubbles; 5) Ava McKay, Irish Rose; 6) Oliver Hill, Flash.

80cm:

1) Ellie Osborne, Bella; 2) Brooke Morrow, Rio; 3) Annie McElmeel, Poppy; 4) Victoria Potter, Jem; 5) Ava McKay, Irish Rose; 6) Lewis Orr, Lynch.

90cm:

1) Marina Stewart, Troy; 2) Eve Fitzsimmons, Connor; 3) Joanne McCurry, Mac D; 4) Lauren Smyth, Hey There Delilah; 5) Robert Newell, Tiny Beans; 6) Sharon Lappin, Amigo.

Marina Stewart and ‘Troy’ won the 90cm class on the day and in the Winter League at The Meadows.

1m:

1) Megan McCombe, Sid.

1.10m:

1) Trudie McCoosh, Simba.

Winter League Winners

Cross-Poles League:

Emma Hannaway, Hippo.

50cm League:

1) Lucy Davidson, Puzzle; 2) Lauren Boyd, Brave; 3) Olivia Johnston, Katie.

60cm League:

1) Charlotte Courtenage, Lilly; 2) Lucy Davidson, Puzzle.

A very well turned out Charlotte Courtenage and ‘Lilly’, winners of the 60cm Winter League at The Meadows.

70cm League:

1) Harry Hannaway, Hippo; 2) Courtney Lynch, Take Two; 3) Oliver Hill, Flash.

80cm League:

1) Ellie Osborne, Bella; 2) Annie McElmeel, Poppy; 3) Victoria Potter, Jem; 4) Ruby Mulvenna, Honey; 5) Jacqueline Burnside, Merlin; 6) Courtney Lynch, Take Two.

Ellie Osbourne and ‘Bella’, pictured after winning the 80cm Winter League at The Meadows.

90cm League:

1) Marina Stewart, Troy; 2) Lauren Smyth, Hey There Deliliah; 3) Kyra Loughran, Missy.

1m League:

1) Samantha Hanna, Nova.

1.10m League:

1) Trudie McCoosh, Simba.