Donegal’s Tirconaill RC is still in the running 

One of the most coveted achievements for members of the Association of Irish Riding Clubs is to secure a place at the Team Show-Jumping Championship.

The championship is held at the Dublin Horse Show in August at the world-renowned RDS in Ballsbridge, Dublin and as only nine teams may qualify the competition is furious at the regional qualifiers.

The West region held its qualifier at Tubberbride stables recently with 15 teams fighting it out for the one qualification spot available.

The competition is run nations-cup-style, with every rider jumping twice for their team and the lowest of the four-team riders' scores being discarded.

If after two rounds of jumping, there are teams on equal points, their team captains must jump off against the clock to determine the placings.

Donegal’s North West sub-region was represented by one Stracomer RC team and one Tirconaill RC team.

Tirconaill’s team of Mark Ward, Charlie Vial, Stephen Greene and Leigha Greene put on a fantastic display but were pipped at the post by one of the local Benbulben RC teams.

Team Tirconaill will now travel to the AIRC Festival, in Mullingar on Sunday, June 11 to have another shot at qualification via the Wildcard qualifier.

This qualifier is for the eight second-placed teams from each of the eight regional qualifiers. Fingers crossed that we’ll be able to cheer them on at the RDS in August.