Excellent standard at Dengie Show Jumping finals

EGLINTON Equestrian Centre in the North West was the venue for the ever popular Dengie Show jumping finals.

The course, designed by Janet Currie, was a fair and testing track which saw almost half of the riders go clear.

The faults for the unsuccessful competitors were spread evenly around the 10 fence track with only a small handful of eliminations and four riders retiring.

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The second round, over a shortened track, had the option of three tight turns and this provided for a very exciting jump off.

The main class of the day, the Dengie Winter League final, started at 2pm and once again the first rider, Eimear McMahon (Route), cleared the 10 fence track, which now included a treble.

This time just over a third of the competitors cleared all the fences to secure their place in the jump off where once again the riders had to take all the tight turns if they were to secure a qualifying place.

Eimear did just that, going clear in 35.14 seconds, with only Iveagh’s Aoife Dooley able to better the time to win the class. The top nine competitors will qualify for the UK championships which take place on March 27 at Moreton Morrell.

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The standard of jumping was excellent all day and the Open class was no different with 11 riders clearing the fences first time around. With only three qualifying places up for grabs the competition was hotting up and Gareth McCombe was the early double clear on the first of his two rides Corraghoe King.

Five more riders went clear including the eventual winner, Seskinore’s Morgan Semple on Beech Hall, and only a few seconds dividing the top six places. The riders from Area 17 have a very good record in the UK Championships and the Route branch wish this years aspirants every success.

The Route branch is indebted to all the past and present members and friends who acted as Judges, starters, secretaries, tack and turnout judges and car parking stewards and worked tirelessly all day to ensure the smooth running of this event.

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