Schools Showjumping at Balmoral May 2017

Banbridge Academy’s Showjumping team beat off stiff competition to qualify for a place to compete in the prestigious Main Arena at the Royal Ulster Agriculture Show at Balmoral Show on Saturday 13th May. The team consisted of Charlotte Eakin, Ella McCallister, Ellie Humphries and Alex Finney. The thirteen teams competing in this event represented schools from all over Ireland.

The Main Arena was divided in two, with a course of ten fences for round one and six fences for round two, which was a jump off course against the clock.

 

Charlotte Eakin and Vigo.G  got the team off to a terrific start with a faultless double clear and a good jump off time of 41.13 seconds. Ella McCallister and Monochrome Girl followed with an unfortunate pole on the ground in the first round and a lovely clear in the jump off in a fast time of 37.71 seconds. Next to go for the team were Ellie Humphries and King Mac. They jumped a terrific double clear in an amazing time of 32.64 seconds.

At this stage of the competition, with the first three members of each team having jumped, Banbridge Academy lay in third place. The excitement was mounting but the pressure did not faze Alex Finney and Keogan’s Boy. After a perfect first round, they flew round the jump off, clear in an incredible 28.25 seconds! This fantastic time proved unbeatable and pushed Banbridge Academy into first place with a total score of zero faults in a time of 98.6 seconds. Royal School Armagh were second with zero faults and a time of 102.42 and in third place was Loreto Omagh with zero faults and a time of 103.79 seconds.

 

The team were presented with a trophy for their school and a rug, rosettes and a sash for their horse or pony. They certainly looked extremely smart as they embarked on their lap of honour. This turned out to be quite a spectacle as all fifty-two competitors were allowed to join in the gallop! A fantastic finish to a fabulous team effort and a proud day for Banbridge Academy.