ROCHDALE and District Riding Club’s showjumping team, the Reigning British Riding Club Champions, became the first British team to win the Tri Equestrian International Team Showjumping event last weekend.
The competition took place at the Association of Irish Riding Club’s (AIRC) Riding Club Festival, held at Stradbally Hall Estate, County Laois, Southern Ireland on 7 June.
Following much fund-raising activity, the six horses, riders and supporters made the journey to Ireland to compete in this prestigious event.
And the team proved extremely successful, exceeding expectations and winning the headline event, becoming the first British team ever to do so.
The championship came down to a nail-biting tussle between Thomastown and Rochdale and District but in the closing moments it was the visitors who kept their cool to claim the honours.
Eleven teams contested the feature showjumping championship at the two-day festival under perfect footing in the main arena.
James Tarrant’s 10-fence track, which included 12 jumping efforts, took its toll on the teams as only Rochdale and District could manage to complete the opening round with a clean sheet.
Thomastown were closest in second place on eight penalties while teams from Barrow Valley, Benbulben, Border Counties, Clonshire, Greenhills, Mill Road, Three Counties, Winterdown and Warrington all registered double digit figures.
Rochdale’s Laura Cooper jumped the club’s only double clear round, with the other three Rochdale riders posting four faults each in the second round, to open up the competition. Second last to jump, Thomastown captain Jenny Reid, needed a clear round to force a jump-off with Rochdale and District, but posted eight faults to leave Rochdale the undisputed winners.
The team of Laura Cooper (Milo’s Magic), Kate Millington (Wizard of Oz), Dan Warburton (MJ Kismet) and captain Harriet Williams (Hugo) finished on a total score of eight penalties with Thomastown slotting into second place on a total of 16.
Team manager Jaime Sanderson said: "I am extremely proud of the team, and also our reserve riders, who had some fabulous results in the individual classes earlier in the day (Christine Bowdler on Terangy Z and Clare Hartley on The Grafter). I would like to convey our gratitude to the AIRC and Stradbally Hall for their support, hospitality and friendliness over the course of the competition, and all the help provided to us prior to leaving the UK.
"Special thanks must go to the many local companies and individuals who provided equipment and sponsorship to enable us to make the trip, and thanks to everyone involved in the many fund-raising events. A full list can be found on Rochdale and District RC’s website."
