The first Bar 3 exam in the ShowjumpingIreland Five Bar Training System took place last Saturday in Knightsfield Equestrian in Maynooth.
Again supported by Mackey Ireland, the first exam brings the syllabus a step closer to completion with Bar 4 and Bar 5 left to publish.
A total of 14 riders were assessed, with all achieving a pass, for their Bar 3 award by former Dublin Grand Prix winner, Comdt. Gerry Flynn and Event rider and coach Sally Corscadden. Riders included in the exam were none other than former National Champions Alexander Butler and Nicola FitzGibbon, European Gold Medal winner Max O’Reilly Hyland, European Bronze Medal winner Killian Norris and Grand Prix riders Feaha Moore and Jessica Kuehnle among the group.
The Bar 3 exam takes in a mixture of flatwork and jumping with an assessment in both areas. The system has been a major turning point for ShowjumpingIreland and exams have been well attended over the last two years with many riders around the country holding their Bar 1 and Bar 2 exams.
The flatwork element of Bar 3 asks riders to complete a Dressage test that consists of some lateral work with an emphasis always on control and balance of the rider and horse.
They are then required to jump a course, which has been pre designed by Tom Holden and Ian Fearon, at a height of 1.10m and riders are marked accordingly on their performances. Again balance and control of both horse and rider through the course is of the utmost importance when reading the exam guide.
HSI Level 3 Coach, Ian Fearon was given the task of putting together the syllabus and Exam, along with the help of Barry O’Connor, for each of the levels completed so far, and Fearon was on hand on Saturday to oversee the actual exam take place.
He commented afterwards; ‘’I am very pleased with the progress of the SJI Five Bar Training system. Last Saturday was a big step along the way and it was great to see so many riders attending and doing so well. It was also very encouraging to see some of our big name riders taking part and shows that these exams are not just for the Pony Riders but are catered for all ages and categories.
‘’I must thank Gerry Flynn and Sally Corscadden for assessing the riders on the day. They did an excellent job, they were very fair but also educated not only the riders but for myself and the SJI Training Committee. We can now improve the remaining exams and make the system even better. Both Sally and Gerry were very impressed with the standard of the riders that took the exam and they were also very complimentary of the exam papers and the guides for the system which was very positive.’’
Former National Champion and current Autumn Grand Prix League Champion, Alexander Butler was taking his first equestrian exam on Saturday and found it a very worthwhile experience; “This training scheme is a great education as it encourages good horsemanship. It was actually the first time for me to take an equestrian exam and it got me to commit to doing some more flatwork in preparation for the exam. When I got the Mackey Bar 3 booklet I thought it was very good and it also gave me some insight into coaching in the future.
‘’It was great to have Gerry Flynn and Sally Corscadden as the assessors on the day and I benefited from their comments. The format of the Bar three is very user friendly, Ian (Fearon) has done an excellent job preparing the booklet and the exam papers and I am already looking forward to doing Bars 4 and 5.”
The successful Bar 3 candidates were Alexander Butler, Orla Cassidy, Taylor Cummins, Joanne Dillon, Nicola FitzGibbons, Robyn Kelly, Jessica Kuehnle, Aine Mc Loughlin, Feaha Moore, Michael Nolan, Killian Norris , Max O Reilly-Hyland, Roisin Fagan and Conan Wright.
Also in Knightsfield, the same day, there was a Bar 2 assessment, which saw six candidates assessed by Ian Fearon. The riders all were well prepared by their trainer Neal Fearon and again there was 100% success for the riders and they were Sarah Brandon, Ashley Byrne, Sam Newman, Leah Stack, Theo Van Cauwenberge and Zoe Whelan.