The Irish Pony Club

SHOW JUMPING CLASSIC
(1 m, 1.10m and 1.20m classes)

The Show Jumping Classic was a great success again this year and thoroughly enjoyed by participants and parents.

The Army Equitation School at McKee Barracks is once again providing a five day training bursary to our winners starting on Monday 13th February, 2012. The Show Jumping Classic is sponsored by the Irish Pony Club Shop.

The winner of the 2011, 1.20m Competition was won by Alyssa O'Neill, Newcastle Lyons Branch who will be taking up the Bursary in McKee Barracks along with Patrick Sheehy, Longford Hunt Branch. Patrick came 2nd in the Classic Competition.

The format of the Classic will be changed in 2012:

• Each area will run a Classic qualifier between June and the end of August.
• The SJ Area Rep will be responsible for running this qualifier.
• This qualifier can be held in conjunction with an area championships qualifier, as is already done in some areas, or an area day or any other time that will suit the area.
• Therefore 9 qualifiers will be held in 2012.
• The Final will be on the 9th of September in Mullingar.

All enquiries to Sylvaine Galligan, Showjumping Chairman Email: showjumping@irishponyclub.ie

Show Jumping Classic Final - Saturday 1st October - Mullingar Equestrian Centre
Report - Results - Photos

The IPC Show Jumping Classic Final took place on Saturday, 1st of October in Mullingar Equestrian Centre. Members travelled from all over to take part in this great competition. Entries overall were down this year, but those who qualified for the final displayed a very high standard of show jumping, adapting well to the indoor arena.

The 1 m Starter Class for riders 13 years and over, was the opening class. Adapting to the indoor had an effect on many, but with with five riders on zero after the first round, there was a very exciting jump-off. All were out to win this class which acts as a great stepping stone to the ultimate class, the 1.20 Classic and such was the quality on display, there is no doubt many of these young competitors will be back next year and progress to the 1.10 and /or 1.20 class. Only one rider, Sarah Gelletlie of Wicklow branch managed a clear round in what was the slowest time in the jump off, but as everyone knows it's about leaving the poles up. See results below.

The 1.10 Finder Class for riders 14 years and over followed. Again, this class had five through to the jump-off and with everyone keen to win the attractive prizes, the tension was high. One rider, Rachel Nevin, was unlucky to gain one time penalty, just keeping her out of the jump off, but guaranteeing her a place in the top six nevertheless. Again it was about leaving the poles up and the first rider in the jump off, Aisling Miklis held the lead until the penultimate rider Laura Reynolds also got a clear round but in a faster time. Full results below..

The 1.20 Classic for riders 15 years and over, was the coveted class of the day, with the winner getting the opportunity to train in McKee barracks for a week next February. After the first round, all riders had incurred faults, but four riders on four faults went into a very exciting jump-off. Patrick Sheehy was first to go in the jump-off and managed the elusive clear round in a time that looked hard to beat. Alyssa O'Neill was third to go and just managed to pip Patricks time by 0.12 of a second. Laura Reynolds was last to go and almost did the double but an over ambitious turn to make the time resulted in four faults, but had it worked, she would have had the faster time. At this level riders had to take chances to win and the standard of the competition was very much quality over quantity as all qualifying places hadn't been taken up. Results below...

Thank you to Phyllis Jones and the Irish Pony Club Shop who generously sponsor these classes. Bursaries and prizes in kind were awarded on the day. See Shop Page on this website for IPC Shop information.

Sylvaine Galligan, Chairman of Show Jumping was very pleased at the quality of the competition in Mullingar. Belle Balding, Chairman of the Irish Pony Club awarding the turnout prizes, complimented riders and horses on their turnout and congratulated all who had qualified and taken part.

The format of the Show Jumping Classic will be reviewed for next year. If you have any comments or suggestions on this competition, Sylvaine would be delighted to hear from you. You can email her on showjumping@irishponyclub.ie

Read how Aoife McCabe got on in McKee Barracks earlier this year....
2011 Classic Winner – Her bursary experience at McKee barracks
I was overjoyed when I heard I had won the bursary for a weeks training in the army.
As the time approached to go I was a little nervous, as I was to stay in The Ashling Hotel by myself, walk up and down to McKee barracks and where I would stable Wineport. It was therefore with some trepidation I headed off with Dad to Dublin not really knowing what to expect. I need not have worried, as all in the equitation corps were very welcoming. Also I have to say were all the staff in The Ashling over the five days.
We had two lessons a day focusing mainly on flat work. This is a discipline I don’t normally enjoy but they explained the importance of it and I think my jumping as improved as a result.
The grooms very kindly explained their working day. The standard of horsemanship and stable management was very high with the place always looking clean and the horses always shiny and well conditioned. I’ve tried to put some of their methods into practice at home but it is hard to have the discipline to do so.
We took a trip to the equine vet in Dublin another valuable learning experience.
All in all it was one of my best mid term breaks ever. I would like to thank everyone who made the trip possible. The Galway mid county branch for their encouragement and Jane Ryan for her unbelievable commitment to pony club’ Sylvaine who kindly came to visit me and members of the defence forces from whom I learnt a lot.
Aoife McCabe