Report of National Amateur Championships 2011

The National Amateur Championships 2011 took place last weekend at Cavan Equestrian Centre hosted by Ulster Amateur Committee.  Over 300 horses jumped over the two days in a highly competitive weekends jumping to crown National A and AA Amateur Champions.   The Committee had been working hard over past six months to secure sponsorship to enable to give prizes in both sections.

The Welcome Stakes one round speed started off the weekend and Lisa Walshe and Punch Clover won the AA section and Pat Drea and Nick JNR the A section.  The Bluegrass Power & Speed class was next with 74 starters Fran Rush stopped the clock in 30.02 to secure 1^st place in A section and Ian Moore taking the AA honours.   

The Main Event of Saturday was the Mini Grand Prix with 68 entries it was going to be a hotly contested competition, Amy Munroe and Forthill Sharamai took the A section and Caroline Black and Rathfrilane Star won the AA Section.

The final class of Saturday was a High jump, only 8 entries but the crowd gathered to cheer on the competitors, with Joe Moore and Wanderly jumping 1.60M triple bar to win the class. 

Sunday got under way with the final of TRI Amateur Class, 29 qualified riders took part looking to be crowned TRI champion of 2011, 18 made it through to jump off, John Killoran and Echo Diamond took 1^st place in time of 42.57 With Aoife Murphy and Eamon oige in 2^nd 42.75.

Event 6 was T-met Power & Speed and Lisa Walshe won her second class of weekend to take her top of the AA riders Leader board, with RDS Amateur Champion Martin Wilson and Database taking 2^nd in AA section.  The A section winner was Liz Bloomer and Ardrums Pride with Fran Mangan and Nearly Dark finishing 2^nd. 

oing into the Grand Prix the leading Rider title was wide open, Lisa Walshe headed the AA leader board but not far behind her was Marguerite Ryan and Ian Moore who had been consistent over the weekend and were not giving up there chance of winning, Pat Drea was well in front in A title after 1^st and 2^nd placing on Saturday.  There was 58 entries to the Traynors Motorstore Grand Prix and Stuart Clarke provided a challenging track, 25 made it to the jump off and 1^st to go in A section was Joanne Nevin and Spitting Diamond setting a good target Clear in 48.11, but Samir Mirdad was next in and had great clear in 45.76 which was good enough for eventual  3^rd, Joanna Penfold then changed the leader board again with a clear in 45.13 to take 2^nd, with Michael Ormond and Mr Puissance going clear in 43.97 to win the A class.   So it was on the the AA, Lisa Spratt and Harpers Diamond go clear in 43.82 which was good enough for eventual 3^rd, Aidan Lee and his ever consistent horse Westmount Shadow Play had good try and stopped the clock in 41.83, Lisa Spratt came back in on her second mount Rockmount Sasha and went round in 40.27 to win class leaving her with 1^st and 3^rd placing.

The National Amateur A Champion is Pat Drea and Nick Jnr and the AA Champion is Lisa Walshe and Punch Clover, both receiving their prizes of weekends break at Mount Falcon Castle courtesy of Horsin Around Activity Breaks from Mayo.

The Committee would like to thank all Sponsors, volunteers and everyone who supported the show and making it a success, and look forward to seeing everyone next year.

DINGOS CHAMPIONSHIPS FINAL

Mullingar EC               28^th August 2011

Click HERE to see the startlist

AUTUMN SERIES 2011 QUALIFIERS

Kernan                                      Ulster                11^th September 2011
Rockmount                               Connaught        18^th September 2011
Barnadown                                Leinster             24^th September 2011
Munster Amateur Indoor Show   Munster            25^th September 2011
Tubberbride                              Connaught        1^st October 2011
Warrington                                Leinster             2^nd October 2011
Kill                                            Leinster             9^th October 2011
Cavan                                       Ulster                16^th October 2011

6 riders to qualify. Final will take place at the Cavan Indoor International Show (9^th/13^th November 2011).

LEDDY LEAGUE

Please click HERE to see the Leddy league's Leaderboard.

Leddy League
Points will be awarded 25,22,16,12,8,6 for placing one to six at each venue.  The competition is run on a league basis and a rider is only allowed to accumulate points at one show on any one day.  The rider with the most points accumulated will be deemed the winner.  In the event of an equality of points the riders next best placing are taken into account (same horse \ rider combination).  A rider is eligible for one prize only in the final league placing. It is imperative that the results are sent to Elodie McGoldrick in the SJI Office by fax 045 852296.

Dingos Amateur Championships
Winner: 2 tickets for Olympia Christmas Show.
Final at Mullingar on the 28^th August 2011.
A rider may only qualify one horse and the competition is open to both A and AA riders.  It should be noted however this year all are eligible to compete except those who have won this championship since 20065 (i.e. within the last 5 years). Please note that the winner of the Dingos Championships is not eligible to compete in the Horseware Classic class. For further information on the Dingos Championship please contact Paddy Mullen on 087 2721629.

National Outdoor Championships
This year the National Outdoor Championships will be hosted by the Ulster committee and will take place on Saturday 13^th and Sunday 14^th August 2011 in Cavan.

TRI Equestrian A Championship (formerly Bluefrog Bedding A Championship)

Rules:
1.    The competition is open to A riders only who are members of the Amateur section of Showjumping Ireland.

2.    The championship to be run at five qualifiers, at venues selected by the National Amateur Committee of SJI. These will be run in 4 regions with two in Leinster.

3.    At each qualifier the first eight riders going clear in descending order will get a place in the final.

4.    At a qualifier if rider has already qualified at another venue the ninth rider in that qualifier gets his/her place in the final.

5.    If there are not enough clears at a qualifier the remaining places are filled with the fastest four faulters to make up the eight for the final.

6.    It is hoped that a total of 40 qualified riders will turn out at the final. It should be announced that any qualified rider who cannot attend the final that he or she should inform the judges so that the ninth or tenth rider will get their place in the final.

7.    If a rider or riders, in the weeks leading up to the final, find that they won’t be able to attend for whatever reason, it is requested that they inform the SJI Amateur Committee so that their place can be filled with the ninth or tenth rider from their qualifier.

8.    It is imperative that the shows running the qualifiers have a photographer present on the day. The results and photos are to be sent to Elodie McGoldrick in the SJI Office by email   (elodie.mcgoldrick@sjai.ie). Results and photographs will appear in the Irish Farmers Journal.

HORSEWARE CLASSIC CLASS
Winner: 2 tickets for Olympia Christmas Show .
This class is for members of 45 years old and over and is sponsored by Horseware (Tom McGuinness). The class will run at the Indoor Amateur Show in Kernan Equestrian Centre on  23^rd/24^th/25^th September 2011. Please note that the winner of the Dingos Championships is not eligible to compete in the Horseware Classic class.

Amateur riders deliberately omitting to place their rider labels on their tickets will be informed that this will not preclude them from gaining Amateur points.