Ride results and reports along with link to images where available can be found below for the most recent events. For older events, not shown below, please access the reports from the Calendar. In the Calendar scroll down to Past Events, or click year, and select the link Report and Results for event you are looking for.
Images for many events can also be directly accessed from the links in the Gallery Page
Event: Home International and Celtic Challenge
Date: Sat Aug 28 2010
Images
Ride Report
A team of 12 horses, riders, crews and organisers represented Ireland at the annual endurance Home International and Celtic Challenge events held at Burgie, near Inverness over the August Bank Holiday.However the high hopes of teams of retaining both titles were soon dashed.With final results based on cumulative mileage Ireland were to suffer even before riding began when ThomasRoche’s mount Mister Flint (75 miles) was unable to start.Further disaster struck when Ellanora (100 miles) ridden by Robyn Catterall was lame at the first vet gate, and Larry O’Neill’s Bluebell (50 miles) was also eliminated at the same stage on metabolic grounds.Helen McFarland’s J St Jake (100 miles) met with a traumatic injury to his hoof in a metal drain and retired approximately 40 miles into the race effectively ending Irish title hopes.
However, Irish Chef d’Equipe CoraRoche was able to maintain morale, and with the remaining members of the team showing strong grit and determination, positive results began to register.On the first day the most notable was KateRussell riding Spike in his first endurance race who completed in 6th position in the 50 mile race, over an acknowledged technical route.Three other riders, Jane Bruce riding Holy Smoke, Sancha Talbot riding Calypso and Hannah Catterall riding Holly were competing over both days and they all finished their 25 mile rides successfully on the Saturday.
The final day saw a 100% success rate with Jane, Sancha and Hannah matching their earlier success to clock up 50 miles each over the 2 days.Jenni Cunningham riding Breeze and Bronagh Kearney on Vetus completed 30 miles and Tasha Anderson on Zeno and Edward Allen on Pepperjack finished the 25 mile ride.
The disappointment of the team registering last place in both competitions was soon dispelled during the post match ceilidh, and with the announcement that two of Ireland’s emerging young riders had won individual awards.Sancha Talbot on Calypso had won the Celtic Challenge Young Rider award, and Jenni Cunningham on Breeze had won the Home International Junior Rider award.
Despite the obvious disappointments, the event was marked with some excellent individual achievements, and the experience of travelling and competing away from these shores has put the team in good heart as they plan to recapture both trophies at next year’s event, scheduled for Builth Wells at the Royal Welsh Showgrounds in October 2011.
Official ride photos can be seen and purchased from:
A great day with last minute work being done before the Irish Team head for the Championships in Scotland - photos from Neil Anderson - Full report and results here soon.
Event: Donard Festival (Day 2)
Date: Sun Jul 18 2010
Images
Ride Report
Sun Shines In Wicklow
Despite thunder and lightening a few nights before the sun was shining on Ildra at the Donard Festival in Co.Wicklow.
Saturday 17th July kicked off at 10am with an in-hand show. The 1st class was for Pure Bred Arabs. With entries from both Ulster and Leinster Branch as well as non-members, judge Mr Gordan Bryan from Mount Prospect Stud, had a difficult task as all horses were very well presented. The winner was Miss Yvonne Croke with her stallion Dantean. The winner of the Part Bred Arab was Mr Gerry Osbourne with his horse, Little Man. The Irish Draught class was won by Ildra member, Cora Roche and Rinka. The next two classes were by far the largest. All shapes and sizes were entered into the Sport Horse and Mountain and Moorland classes. The Sport Horse class was won by Colleen Donnolly with Bailey. In the Mountain and Moorland we had Dales, Connemara, Exmoor and Part Breds. The class was split into little and large for the judging. After long deliberation the winner was announced, Maura Murphy with Frankie.
With the officials fed all eyes turned to the afternoon event. This was a 10mile race for members and non-members. 12 entries set off at a steady pace at 1.30pm. Just over an hour later someone shouted HORSES!!! Entries organiser, Kirsten Conly, had a mad dash across the field to the finish line. The final placing went down to a photo finish but as the first two were declared a dead heat the result was decided by the final vetting and heartrates. In the non-members category the results were – 1st – Emma McCarthy – Socks, 2nd – Pat O’Reilly – Swift, 3rd – Michael Byrne – Magic and the member’s category the results were – 1st – Dawn Leadon-Bolger – Cal Flaming Arab, 2nd – Caroline Murphy – Pie In The Sky, 3rd – Brona Kearney – Charmer. A lot of our members decided to take it easy and just ride out on the pleasure ride route, but member Nikki Boud riding Edward Allen’s horse Vatusse, chose to do a ctr. Along with Nikki were the Doyle family and Kirsten Loughnan who were venturing out on their first Ctr. Saturday didn’t finish there, Ildra had organised a Bbq at the Hunting Lodge. With Edward Allen and Larry O’Neill at the helm, riders and crews relaxed while reflecting on the eventful day.
Sunday morning was the start of another packed day. With the four horses for the 80km race all through the pre-ride vetting, the riders set off at 8.30am. Shortly after the rest of the Ctr riders headed out on course. The route took riders from the venue down through the village and along to the Holywood Glen. They then climbed up Church mountain and back towards Donard Wood. With such a good day, the views were spectacular. It wasn’t long before the four riders were back for their mid-way vetting. All passed and back out for their second loop. Just after 1.30pm crew cars appeared back at the venue. The race riders were on their way home. Robyn Catterall on Ellanora unfortunately lost two shoes so sister Hannah was left to ride home alone. Hannah said she could hear riders behind her so she never looked back and crossed the finish line to take first place in the race and pick up the Junior Open Championship. Second place went to Terri Moore on Jehol’s Song, who crossed the line just 51 seconds later. Terri also picked up the Senior Open Championship and was the winner of the Race Ride Series. The Intermediate class was won by Larry O’Neill and the Novice was won by Tasha Anderson on Zeno with 2nd place going to Cora Roche on Rinka and 3rd to Jane Bruce on Holy Smoke. The Junior Intermediate class was won by Jenni Cunningham on Breeze and the Novice went to Brona Kearney on Charmer.
The most exciting part of the day, I think, was when two of our younger members decided to slip away from their accompanying adults to have their own racing finish. Rachel Mckee on Tobimagpie left mummy, Diane at the gate and crossed the line to a huge applause. A little while later Jacob Morrow on Stars wisely advised his dad, James, to take it easy coming through the gate but while he wasn’t watching he made a break to the finish line where mummy, Margaret, was waiting. Both were overjoyed that they had beaten their parents to the finish line.
In all the weekend turned out to be a huge success and everyone enjoyed themselves. Thoughts are on to next year!
Event: Scottish Championships (Day 3)
Date: Sun Jul 18 2010
More Info
No Images available yet
Ride Report
Ulster rider, Helen McFarland, enjoyed a successful trip to Britain recently. At Scone, just north of Perth and the historic crowning venue for Scottish kings, her 15 year old part bred arab gelding J St Jake retained his title as Scottish Open Champion when he won the 2 day 160km (100 mile) race on 17th/18th July. Jake rode with Highland rider Lorna Templeton's Redarn Connon up to vet gate 4, but a quicker presentation by 7 minutes allowed Jake to establish an impressive lead, and he pushed on to a comfortable victory over the Arab x Highland, in what was Connon's first 160km race completion. Jake's final speed was 13.3 kph (8.3 mph)
The following week Helen travelled south and won the 92km (57 mile) race at the LindumEndurance Festival in Lincolnshire on her home bred 8 year old part bred arab Just C'mall. This race was a much more tense affair, with C'mall 9 minutes behind at the final vet gate, catching Yorkshire rider Tracy Thompson on Crystal Jobaar about 2 kms from the finish, and eventually winning by a short head after a thrilling racing finish at Market Rasen racecourse. The speed of 14.9 kph (9.3 mph) was the fastest recorded for the event which took place over the Lincolnshire Wolds.
Event: Donard Festival (Day 1)
Date: Sat Jul 17 2010
Images
Ride Report
Great day of Equestrain activity - full report to follow but the 1st ILDRA showing classes went boff with out a hitch followed by ILDRA's 1st 10 mile race ride.
Full report and results soon.
Image are split into 3 sections for the weekend as follows:
Sunday Prizegiving (Apologies to anyone wanting a photo from the Sunday but due to the photographer crewing a 40 mile CTR rider and the less than nice weather the only photos are of the prize giving.)
If anyone took nice photos and would like to allow them to be posted and sold (in aid of ILDRA) on these pages please contact images@enduranceridingireland.com.
Ludlow 2009 - Home Internationaland Celtic Challenge (download .pdf)
Thursday 16th July saw the Irish Endurance Team from all over Ireland start the Long journey to Ludlow Shropshire for the annual Home International and Celtic Challenge Competitions, against teams from Scotland, England, Wales and Cornwall. With all horses travelling well the day before, Friday saw the official start to the weekend’s endurance with the team vetting. With the weather being so beautiful in the past weeks no one expected to see the heavens open. Despite the rain all team horses passed the intense vet checks with all achieving low heart rates and trotting up well.
With everyone tucked up for the night, Saturday came very quickly and at 8.30am Robyn Catterall on Ellanora and Thomas Roche on Jaisone set off on their 1st 160km ER (100miles). They were accompanied by experienced Co.Down rider, Helen McFarland on Just C’Mall who was riding in the 120km (75miles) class. 10mins later ILDRA’s newest members Carmel Quinn on Bluebell and Aisling Byrnes on Polly set off on their 1st 80km ER (50miles). Both girls have successfully completed their bronze, silver and gold shamrocks this year, only the 3rd and 4th riders to do so in ILDRA’s 19th year of running.
With all five riders safely over the busy railway crossing they headed out across Oakly Park and towards Bringewood. Reports had come back of very muddy and slippery conditions and this was definitely the case because by the time the riders had arrived at checkpoint 1, three greys had indeed become skewbald. Well watered the five headed through checkpoint 2 and towards Leinthall Earls at checkpoint 3 where ILDRA’s static crew, John and Margaret Gilpin were anxiously waiting. Mars bars galore kept the riders going to the 1st vet gate where their crews had been stocking up on water from John Anderson’s van.
Back at the venue Cora Roche on Beancroft Joe Hatter, Allison Sloan on Madison and Hannah Catterall on Holly’s Dream Flight set out on the first day of their 80km 2day CTR. With the same mud problems their spirits were kept high by the constant chatting from Hannah. Time soon flew by and before they knew it they were back at the venue. With a nod from Cora, 14 year old Hannah picked up the pace (the finish after all was on a race course) and the 3 girls crossed the line with smiles. With 40km done and 40km to go, their concentration quickly turned to the other riders out on course. Much to the relief of the team chef, Larry O’Neill, it wasn’t long before they were all safely home.
With a little bit of Irish luck all horses safely made it through the trot up on day 2 and with only 40km to complete Helen was soon out on course. Heavy rain through the night had made a tough course even tougher and by the time Robyn and Thomas started it looked like the rain was there for the day.
After the longest change of a horse’s shoes in history, Allison, Cora and Hannah were joined by novice riders Kate Russell on Ultimate Pride and Jenni Cunningham from Ballygowan who is riding on the team for the first time on Breeze. Husbands and Parents sighed a huge relief as they waved them off. Two teenage girls and three women mmmmmm!!! Although I was later informed that they couldn’t do much talking as the tracks were narrow and they had to ride in single file.
Meanwhile already on course was Judith Hyndman on Misty and Brona Kearney on Charmer. They were riding a total of 50km (31miles) Misty was a reserve horse and was given to Judith after her young Arab went lame only a few days before travelling and Brona, who suffers from Fredricks Ataxia was attempting to complete her forth year on the team. With Helen and the rest of the ladies all home safe, excitement stared to build as Ireland were now a strong contender for both competitions.
While some ILDRA members groomed Kate’s horse Pride, for the pending parade of competitors, the rest went out on course to give encouragement to Robyn, Thomas and a Scottish girl, Lorna Hogg, who had been riding with them. Literally only a few miles from home a sea of Irish green and Scottish blue gathered at the finish line with flags flying and cameras at the ready. Instead of the noise of a train, a cheer was heard and the supporters knew that the riders had entered the racecourse. To rapturous applause and cheers, the riders crossed the line. An even bigger cheer went up from all when the vets said pass to the three riders. What a finish!
With all competitors home, spectators were given a chance to see the riders in their nation’s colours at the parade. Cornwall took first prize for best turned out in the Celtic Challenge while Ireland took first prize in the Home International. I think it was the green shamrocks painted on Pride’s hooves by Jenni that clinched it.
Ireland’s luck stayed with them as they picked up 1st place in both the Celtic Challenge and the Home International team competitions and then went on to win the overall top nation. The prizes didn’t stop there with Helen taking first place in the 120km class and Robyn taking 2nd and Thomas taking 3rd respectively in the 160km class.
An extremely proud chef, Larry, was still on cloud nine when he reached his home in Donard, Co. Wicklow and he would like to thank all riders, crews and supporters who had taken the time to travel across. Congratulations to Larry and all the riders.
