TREC Ireland National Championships 2018

TREC IRELAND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS, 2018.

THE FIELD EQUESTRIAN CENTRE, CO LAOIS, SUNDAY JULY 22ND

Sunday, 22nd July dawned bright and clear as riders prepared themselves and their mounts for the TREC Ireland National Championships. The venue was The Field Equestrian Centre at Ballyadams, in Co Laois, with the kind permission of Robert Owens and Kenna Chapman. The Field EC was the perfect setting for the Championships, with its fantastic all-weather cross country course and its surrounding forestry and scenic countryside. Leinster TREC were the hosts and organisers.

As a National Championships, all three phases of TREC were to be included in the competition and Chefs de Piste were Leinster TREC’s Paula Donohoe and Marie Gallagher and Traceurs for the POR were Sheila Fuller and Margaret Lynch. TD for the Championships was Bambi Carroll of Turas TREC.

The day started off with the MA (control of paces). This was laid out on part of the all-weather track, a lovely straight level stretch, but with the challenge of some jump obstacles and water feature alongside! This caused a few swerves and breaks in pace for some but many horses got decent scores here, giving them a good start to the day.

On then to the PTV (Obstacle) part of the competition, with its 16 Obstacles, planned by Paula Donohoe and Marie Gallagher This section started in the grassy paddocks and then continued onto and round the all-weather track. An excellent mixture of Style, Pace and Timed Obstacles meant that both rider and horse skills were challenged appropriately for a Championships. Obstacles included the Hedge, Gate, Shamrock, Water Crossing, S-bend, Mounting, Immobility (Ridden and In Hand), Footbridge and a final gallop to the Tree Trunk for those who wished! Several of the Obstacles also had a related difficulty, such as walking through water, and here riders and their mounts had an opportunity to show the partnership combination which is part of the original test for TREC.

After that test, riders presented their horses for a checkup, then had a welcome break before the afternoon’s challenge of the POR (Orienteering). Levels on the day were 2A, 2 and 1, both Individual and Pairs and there was also a non-Championships class.

So - Hi-Viz gear was put on horses and riders, fly masks, fly spray, fly fringes all attached and all prepared for the hot day and for the Equipment Check. Riders then entered the Maproom, copied their maps and set off on their routes. With the help of Robert Owens, owner of The Field EC with his local knowledge & contacts, the Traceurs Sheila Fuller and Margaret Lynch had managed to put together routes with lots of off-road for all Levels, with some wonderful views, old castle ruins and a walk around a lake. Also to help with the heat, checkpoints were supplied with water for the horses. And as a final surprise and to cool off horses’ legs, the last section of the route for all horses and riders was to enter and walk through a shallow forest stream for the last 250m back to the venue and final checkpoint.

Safely back at the venue, horses could be cooled off at the washbay before a rewarding haynet and rest. From then on, it was the Scorers, Brendan Gavin and Ros Lynch who were the busiest, as they compiled the rider’s results from the various sections, adding points and subtracting penalties to find the winning combinations.

In the meantime, several presentations were made. A raffle took place for all helpers on the day, to thank them for giving so generously of their time. And presentations were made of horse/rider gear to Kirsten and Kayleigh McCormack, who will be representing Ireland at the Young Rider FITE Euromondial Championships in Italy in August this year.

Finally, the Results were out, the Championships places decided and the prize giving could take place. Trophies, rosettes & prizes from TREC Ireland were awarded to all who were placed in each class and a special crystal presentation prize was generously given by sponsor Patricia Foley of Ballyglass Farms to the winners of each class.

All who helped to make the day such a success were gratefully thanked and applauded and finally, tired but happy riders and horses made their way home to all parts of Ireland.

Results:

Level 2A Individual – 1, Strandhill Batman (Kirsten McCormack); 2, Robert (Ailbhe Gavin); 3, Gallarus Boy (Rosemarie Bryson).

Level 2A Pairs – 1, Regal Ivy (Celia Taylor) and Boynehall Benny (Sheaffe Monteith); 2, Ballycumber Blue (Katie Elwood) and Carlanstown Kid (Kayleigh McCormack); 3, Piccolo Boy (Bobbie Ovington) and Polly (Siobhan Wolf); 4, Juno (Trish Young) and Ginger (Sonia Serramia Ruiz).

Level 2 Individual – 1, Ballyclough Nugget (Sheila Winters); 2, Amber Sky (Patrick Byrne).

Level 1 Individual – 1, Coolroe Gold (Diana O’Huid); 2, Kedra Hugo Boss (Liz Burbage); 3, West Joey (Louise Parkes); 4, Trigger (Ellie Horgan).

Level 1 Pairs – 1, Cedergardim Ocean (Siobhan Ovington) and Teddy (Phillippa Christie); 2, Kleiner Onkel (Ulrike Schweder) and Sherry (Maria Schweder); 3, Apache (Joanne Robb) and Ringo (Lauren Robb).

Non-Championship Pairs – 1, Ballyphilip Gold (Ann Little) and Molly (Elaine Dolan Crowley); 2, Townend Lionheart (Chloe Brophy) and Rizzo (Sophie Crow); 3, Crosskennan Jethro (Ali Shields) and Zuko (Kerry Neill); 4, Maggie (Marissa Elliott) and Riley (Neil Kearns).