Huge crowd present at Ballintober hunter trials

A HUGE crowd turned out for the annual hunter trials at Ballintober, New Ross, recently. This event was hosted by the Grace family and patrons came long distances to compete.

The weather was on the chilly side but it did not deter the riders, young and not so young, from attempting to put in a good performance at the Ballintober track.

The course was looking splendid and each year the new fences are admired and are a great topic of conversation.

This track is always challenging and those who end up on the winners’ podium truly deserve to be there.

Larger numbers of ponies than previous years turned out in their classes which ran the horse classes a bit later than other years.

Nevertheless, these classes showed some great riding with very fast times at the finish line.

Pony Club riders were out in force with the Kilkenny pairing of Shauna Furlong and Aisling Dwan winning the pony pairs.

Finlay Edmundson narrowly beat Shauna Furlong in the pony singles.

Intro pairs had many riders in contention with only seconds separating the first six placings. The winners here were David and Cora O’Donnell.

This singles competition was won by Rachel O’Shea.

A stiff Novice course saw Ruth Burke and Emily Laffan win the pairs in a respectable time, but the singles title went to last year’s winner, Anna Dowley of Piltown, almost a minute faster.

A smaller number entered in the open pairs. It was a worthwhile trip from the Curragh, Co. Kildare, for William Flood and Shannon Mahon as they beat Kevin and Carmel Mackey for the top spot.

The open singles had some spectacular riders once again this year. Anna Dowley came very close but had to settle for second place behind Patrick Cullen (Blackwater), Roy Tector (Clonroche), Christine Keymer (Blackwater), Tracey O’Dwyer (St. Mullins) and Raymond Morrissey (Waterford). Well done to all the competitors.

A huge thank you from the organisers to all the competitors, sponsors, volunteers, helpers, family and friends.

The sponsors were Shires Equestrian Products, Bolgers Agri Feeds and Gain Feeds.

Gerry O’Sullivan from gpfoto captured some excellent shots throughout the day. All photographs can be viewed on gpfoto.ie

Open singles: 1, Patrick Cullen; 2, Anna Dowley; 3, Roy Tector; 4, Christine Keymer; 5, Tracey O’Dwyer; 6, Raymond Morrissey.

Open pairs: 1, William and Shannon Mahon; 2, Kevin and Carmel Mackey.

Novice singles: 1, Anna Dowley; 2, Dylan Moore; 3, Robbie Walsh; 4, Laurence Fennell; 5, Ruth Burke; 6, Joseph Byrne.

Novice pairs: 1, Ruth Burke and Emily Laffin; 2, Richard Sutton and Helen Keatley; 3, Tara and Kate Walsh; 4, Brian Carroll and Tony Behan; 4, Mary Louise Queally and Conor O’Shea; 6, Kevin and Carmel Mackey.

Intro singles: 1, Rachel O’Shea; 2, John Dwan; 3, Aine Nolan; 4, Dermot Mann; 5, Ava Channey; 6, Neil Murphy.

Intro pairs: 1, David and Cora O’Donnell; 2, Fergus and Margaret Turner; 2, Shannon and Tara Fogarty; 3, Sarah Codd and Aine Butler; 3, Aine Kavanagh and Patrick Doyle; 4, Joseph Whelan and Ciara Mernagh; 5, Ruth McGrath and Tara Monahan; 5, Cassie Bolster and Niamh Harding.

Pony singles: 1, Finlay Edmund- son; 2, Shauna Furlong; 3, Tara Fogarty; 4, Lorna O’Shea; 5, Bill O’Shea; 6, Seamus Nolan.

Pony pairs: 1, Shauna Furlong and Aisling Dwan; 2, Niamh Kirwan and Aoife Keena; 2, Seamus Nolan and Billy Byrne; 3, George Wakehim and Aimee Toner; 4, Adam Kavanagh and Emily Fox; 5, Aoife Hartley and Lauren Hartley; 6, Tara Wakehim and Ava Channing.

Mini singles: 1, Hazel Barden; 2, Katie Doyle; 3, Kelly Fogarty; 4, Robyn Lanigan; 5, Kayleigh O’Brien; 6, Alesha Croke.

Mini pairs: 1, Niamh Birch and Ray Dunne; 2, Tara and Kelly Fogarty; 3, Claire O Morchue and Sarah Lyons; 4, Grace Power and Ciara Rickard; 5, Kayleigh O’Brien and Saoirse Lee; 6, Lily Hatton and Emma Kelly.