** SJI National Young Rider Championships 2021 **

Last weekend was a busy one for our young riders and children on horses as they travelled to Cavan Equestrian in a bid to take home a National Title at the 2021 SJI National Young Rider Championships. Although this division of riders were late kicking off their season, their talent and determination was clear to be seen. This year along with the titles, the Overall Winners also won training bursaries kindly sponsored by Horse Sport Ireland to the value of €2000. The young rider, Children on horses winners each were awarded the Horse Sport Ireland bursary of €2,000, as was the Junior Championships. The 1.10m, 1.20m and 1.30m winners also received a training bursary from SJI to the value of €300 each.

~ Overall National Titles Kindly Sponsored by Horse Sport Ireland ~

It has been a great season for Robyn Moran as she kicked off by claiming the runner-up spot in the TRM Showjumpers Spring Tour early in the year. This Limerick rider has continued this great show of form and was rewarded last week when she also secured the Young Rider National Championship crown. Along with the crown, Moran also took the win in the 1.30m Young rider National Summer League. It was a profitable outing for Moran has she recorded a host of impressive results, which included a win in the 1.30m on the Friday with Coolminga Inspector, a win in the 1.10 with European Cruise, a win in the 1.35m Young rider National league final on Saturday.

In the Junior National Championship, two riders, Taylor Peare and Yousef Sallem will both share the title and each rider received a €1,000 training bursary sponsored by Horse Sport Ireland. It was a great weekend for Wexford’s Taylor Peare as she secured the 1.10m Young rider National Summer league. Peare had a great outing with a host of good results, which included sixth place in the 1.20m with Lissyegan Geoffrey, second in the 1.10m Young rider National League Final, third in the 1.20m Young rider National League Final and fourth in the 1.20m Junior/ Young rider Grand Prix.

Similarly Yousef Sallem had a profitable weekend, claiming the runner-up spot in the 1.20m Young rider National league, fifth in the 1.20m JNR/YR qualifier with Besser Von Tulisa.

Galway’s Tadhg Dillion’s super performance saw him secured the Children on Horses Crown. Dillion had an outstanding weekend, taking thew win in the 1m, second in the 90cm Championship with Maddm Buffet, sixth in the Children on Horses 1.110m Grand Prix with Rhonda and a win in the 1.10m COH/JNR/YR

Championship Wins

Along with the main titles the champions honours were are also awarded. Claiming the

1.10 Champion was Oisin Dillion, while Ronya Benson took he 1.20m Championship title. A super performance from Seamus Hennessy saw him take the 1.30m crown.

Final winners on the day

90cm

Competition was intense on Sunday with each class coming down to the wire. In the 90cm Championship, it was young rider Laura Gordon that took the win , when she was clear in 31.79 seconds. Little separated the next placing as Tadhg Dillion and Maddm Buffet, came home in 32.31 for second, ahead of Ella Budds and Loughnatousa Nickita, in 35.75. Slotting into fourth place was Conor Dunlop, who partnered the four-year-old Castleturvin Archie B HSI (4 YO) to a clear in 36.19. Not content with fourth, Dunlop also took fifth place with Castleturvin Libertina. Completing the top six was Laura Gordon and the four-year-old, Woodview Raikou, clear in 39.84.

1m

In the 1m class 38 combinations went to post, and from those 10 double clears were delivered. Leading the victory lap was Tadhg Dillion and Maddm Buffet, when they clocked the fastest time of 27.57. Saoirse Lehane put in a great attempt with Garrydruig Chippiselle, but had to settle for second when they stopped the clock in 29.31. Stephen Gibbons was a fraction of a second behind with the five-year-old Mayfield Will to Live, in 29.93 for third place, ahead of Kate Rohan and Grey Shade of Chicago, in 32.89. A clear from Emma O’ Connor and Buachaill Rua in 35.65 saw them take fifth place, ahead of Ella Budds and Loughnatousa Nickita for sixth place.

1.10m JNR/YR Grand Prix

Winner of the 1.10m JNR/YR Grand Prix was Oisin Dillion and SMC Molly, when he galloped home with nothing to add in 24.39 seconds. Dillion was chased home by Pataire Crawford and Jackstar, who clocked 24.52. Slotting into third place was Niamh Fitzpatrick and Hard Times, who was clear in 24.68, ahead of Aisling Foody and Innisfree Flight, clear in 25.11. Emma O’ Connor added to her record when she took fifth place with Quality Diamond, clear in 25.40. Jazmine Arthur (All that Jazz) careful approach saw her take joint sixth place along with Charlotte Harding (Crossmaglen Bandit) and Aoibheann Power (CSF Alfie), when they came home clear in a time of 26.42 seconds.

1.10m Children on Horses Grand Prix

Kilkenny rider, Heather Byrne emerged victorious in the 1.10m Children on Horses Grand Prix. Riding Golden Puissance, she delivered the winning round of clear in 27.13. Just fractions of a second separated first and second place, as Ben Cassidy and Cocktail De Riverland stopped the clock in 27.17. Zoe Penfold and King Cruise took third place when they clocked 28.42, while in fourth place was Jamie Hargaden and High Five, who clocked 32.98. Zoe Penfold returned to take another place in the line-up when she delivered a clear with CSF Olympic You Too in 33.84 for fifth place. Tadhg Dillon posted the fastest round of the class with Rhonda IHR, clocking 26.22, but it came at a price as he crossed the line carrying four faults for sixth place.

1.20m Juniors/Young Rider Grand Prix

Leading the victory lap in the 1.20m Juniors/Young Rider Grand Prix was Dylan Ward and Diamant De La Mer, when they came home with nothing to add in 32.77 seconds. Nicole Kershaw also answered all the questions with Avalent, in 33.07 for second place. Kershaw didn’t go home too disappointed as the also took the win in the 1.20m Young rider National Summer League .Accounting for third place was Caragh Charlton and Miss Belgium 111, when clear in 33.87. Taylor Peare also had her eye on a win as she took it on with Lissyegan Geoffrey, but their time of 33.88 would prove good enough for fourth place. Also keeping the poles in place, albeit in a slower time of 34.01 for fifth was Ronya Benson and Be Good. On Form, Dylan Ward also accounted for sixth place, when he delivered a clear with Kruser DHH in 36.80.

1.35m Grand Prix

All eyes were on the 1.35m Junior/Young Rider Grand Prix with 43 combinations going to post. From the original starters 12 combinations maintained clean sheets, and from those six double clears were delivered. Following a nail-biting class, Seamus Hennessy (King Louis AE) and Eoin Brennan (Ninparo) emerged as joint winners when they both stopped the clock in 46.82. Taking third place was Niamh McEvoy and Lisboy Louie, when they were only a fractions of a second behind in 46.91. Resident rider Camry Clarke and Chinatown came home in 48.16 for fourth place, ahead of Pataire Crawford and Ardfry Van V Uriko, in 51.47. Last of the double clears and slotting into sixth was Ellen Thompson and Alejandro Two, who clocked 64.58.

Young Rider National Summer Overall League winners

Also awarded on the day was the Young Rider National Summer Overall League winners

Claiming the 1m was Sophie Aherne, while Taylor Peare took the 1.10m. The 1.20m crown belonged to Nicola Kershaw, while Robyn Moran added to her titles when she took the 1.30m title.