Working Hunter – 27th February 2011

Winter Sun shone brightly on Sunday 27th February for the penultimate leg of the Laurel View Winter Working Hunter League, entries were good and the quality of competitor was of a very pleasing calibre.

Geraldine Lowry gave of her time and expertise to judge the Ponies, with Courtney Hamilton and Jonty taking the first red of the day in the Newcomer Pony class. In the Starter Stakes it was Sarah Britton and Ballylaughlin Lady Lynsey that took the honours with Jonty and Courtney Hamilton in second place.

In the Novice Pony class with the flowing course up to 70cm there were no half measures from Gransha’s Half and Half and Maya Boyle when they rode into first place, while Lauren Court took home the rosette to match her ponies name.  Maya Boyle and Gransha’s Half and Half did it again in the Intermediate Pony class, with Whirlwind Molly and Chloe Scott coming in second.

The Open Pony rounded off the Pony Classes in time for a late lunch, with Whirlwind Molly and Chloe Scott whirling into first place and Zoro Azoo and Julia Lyttle coming it at number two.

The Horse classes got underway in the afternoon with Judge Erin Faloona taking the reins.  Taking the top spot in the warm up class was Jackie Hanna and Cora with Lorraine Irwin riding Laurel View Rab into the second spot.

Shane O’Grady and Starstruck took the limelight in the 4 year old class, with Shutter Bug and Kate Johnston coming a close second.  There was no stopping Thunder and Marie Lagan in the Novice Horse class, leaving Rangehill Llwynog and Simon Wylie a few points behind.

Simon Wylie and Rangehill Llwynog upped the anti to take 1st place in the small horse class, with Shakiera Dashing Doll in second ridden by Cathie Lowry. The honours in the Cob class went to Lorraine Irwin and Laurel View Rab.

In the 90cm Intermediate Horse class Nick Jordan and Cara had the top points when they were all added up, with Goodtime One and Hannah Finlay securing second.  Nuala McIvor and Song of Charm won the Open Horse class to finish the day off nicely.

A bright Spring day gave the Equi-Tog photographer great light conditions to catch the competitors at their best.

The next competition in the League is the final on Sunday 27th March, with the action once again kicking off with ponies at 10am and the horses to follow from approximately 1.30pm.

Preceding the Working Hunter Final is the final of the Winter Dressage League which is on the calendar for Sunday 20th March, entries are required by 12 noon on Thursday 18th to allow the times to be prepared and posted on www.laurelview.co.uk by 5pm on the Friday.  Apart from the regular league prizes, qualifying competitors are eagerly anticipating the calculation of the top average score in Classes 3 – 6 as that lucky competitor will take home the voucher for a weekend for 2 at the fabulous Dunadry Hotel.

Jumping leagues registered and unregistered are now underway at Laurel View on Wednesdays, full details can be found on the website or give the office a call on 028 9083 0649.

For more information on the above or any of the activities at Laurel View just email laurelview01@btinternet.com

Working Hunter Results 27/02/11

Ponies

Class 1 – Newcomer Pony – 1st Jonty, Courtney Hamilton.

Class 2 – Starter Stakes – 1st Ballylaughlin Lady Lynsey, Sarah Britton; 2nd Jonty, Courtney Hamilton.

Class3 – Novice Pony – 1st Gransha’s Half and Half, Maya Boyle; 2nd Blue, Lauren Court; 3rd Araglen Myles, Megan Huston; 4th Whirlwind Molly, Chloe Scott.

Class 4 – Intermediate Pony – 1st Gransha’s Half and Half, Maya Boyle; 2nd Whirlwind Molly, Chloe Scott; 3rd Zoro Azoo, Julia Lyttle; 4th Araglen Myles, Megan Huston.

Class 5 – Open Pony – 1st Whirlwind Molly, Chloe Scott; 2nd Zoro Azoo, Julia Lyttle.

Horses

Class 6 – Warm Up Class – 1st Cora, Jackie Hanna; 2nd Laurel View Rab, Lorraine Irwin; 3rd Patch Mills Bakers Bridge, Roma Oakes; 4th Roccafella Rose, Nuala McIvor; 5th Magic, Claire Robinson; 6th My Clover Rose, Libby Beggs.

Class 7 – 4 Year Old – 1st Starstruck, Shane O’Grady; 2nd Shutter Bug, Kate Johnston; 3rd Farmhill Spirit, Charlotte Calvert; 4th My Clover Rose, Libby Beggs; 5th Rocafella Rose, Nuala McIvor.

Class 8 – Novice Horse – 1st Thunder, Marie Lagan; 2nd Rangehill Llwynog, Simon Wylie; 3rd The Castletown Lad, Miriam Wright; 4th Patch Mills Bakers Bridge, Roma Oakes; 5th Cora, Jackie Hannah; 6th Starstruck, Shane O’Grady.

Class 9 – Small Horse – 1st Rangehill Llwynog, Simon Wylie; 2nd Cathie Lowry, Shakiera Dashing Doll; 3rd Cara, Nick Jordan.

Class 10 – Cob – 1st Laurel View Rab, Lorraine Irwin.

Class 11 – Intermediate Horse – 1st Cara, Nick Jordan; 2nd Goodtime One, Hannah Finlay; 3rd Song of Charm, Nuala McIvor; 4th Rangehill Llwynog, Simon Wylie; 5th Leo, Caroline Kelly.

Class 12 – Open Horse – 1st Song of Charm, Nuala McIvor.