KRC goes to Stradbally!

 What a weekend we had, 15 Kerry Rc members headed for Stradbally, Co. Laois for the AIRC National Festival. The results are as follows:

Avril Geary had a fantastic weekend winning the Primary Individual dressage on Ozzy as well as picking up 4th in the Primary Prix Caprilli. 

Avril & Ozzy

Mary Leahy came 2nd in the Primary Individual Show Jumping as well as 6th in the Primary Prix Caprilli. 

Mary Leahy & Billy

Kerry also claimed the top 3 spots in the AP Individual dressage, with 73 horses in total, Aine Bradley came in 1st place, Brenda Moriarty in 2nd, followed by Carolann O Sullivan in 3rd. 

Carolann & Smirnoff

Next we had the AP Prix Caprilli with Brenda & Carolann taking the top two spots again. 

John Higgins had a fantastic few days coming 2nd in two of his AI show jumping classes. 

John Higgins with one of his prizes joined by Sinead, Mary & Kiara

Our Primary SJ team of Caroline, Avril, Mary & Jacqui came 2nd in their class. 

Caroline & Cheiftain

Our two dressage teams were placed 3rd (Alannah Bradley, Aine Bradley, Noelle Kirby & Brenda Moriarty) and 5th (Carolann, Jacqueline Higgins, Avril Geary & Caroline Stiles)!

Well done to all riders who took part, we know the amount of work and effort people have been putting in to prepare for these events. - Safe to say I think a lot of our first timers are looking forward to next year already. It's fair to say this was our biggest year yet for club turn out, lots of individual entries and five team entries.

Finally I'd like to say a big Thank You to Mary Bradley, the woman behind it all - she works harder than most of us put together, getting us ready for these competitions, perfecting our dressage tests, advice on jumping, our position, approches to jumps, everything! What would we do without you! Roll on next year :D

A few more pics from the weekend...

Damo & Oscar

Sinead, Alannah, Caroline & Clare on Marmite

Just some of the crew!

Our Intermediate Show Jumping team.

Kiara & Nova getting ready to enter the dressage arena

Alannah & Sox waiting to take on the Advanced Intermediate jumping

Maria all smiles after her SJ round

Maria & Zela in action

Messers ;)

Just a small drop of rain during Brenda & Zeus' dressage test

Reidin & Cono giving plenty air to the fences

 Some of our prize winners

Aine & Archie

Jacqui, Kiara & Carolann discuss tactics!

New Blog :)

I've decided to set up this blog to keep people up to date on our club activities throughout the year. For further information on our club you can find us on facebook Kerry RC or through email - kerryridingclub at hotmail dot com.

So far this year we have done the following in the club;

-Express Eventing at Eagle Lodge
-Dressage competitions & training days
-Cross Country training with Mary Bradley in Killarney

-Flatwork lessons with Donie McNamara through a regional bursary at Eagle Lodge
-Regional combined training in Woodlands Equestrian, Killarney

-XC schooling in Clonshire, Co. Limerick
-Dressage & Jumping training day at Crag Caves, Castleisland

-Various Hacks
-Beach Rides

Members have also represented the club at other club events as well as national level. Four members went to Clonshire's One Day Event on May 11th and were delighted with their results as it was a first ODE for a few of the horse & rider combinations. Kerry RC also made the long journey to Stradbally, Portlaoise last week to compete at the AIRC National Festival. Results to follow.