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RECENT RESULTS
Annaharvey One Day Event Sunday 29th August 2010
 Hollybrookers doing Annaharvey One Day Event last Sunday were Joanne Logue (Open), Trish Gray and Brigid McCarroll (Inter) and Sarah Ridgway (AP).
Trish, Brigid and Sarah all travelled down the night before to try and get a heads up on the show jumping and cross country courses – not so we could relax in the sun with a bottle of wine as someone suggested! Poor Brigid had to contend with a puncture on her horsebox on arrival but once that was all sorted and we had settled the horses and ourselves out with beds and put the all important wine in the fridge we set out on the XC course.
After a bit of confusion (and heart fluttering!) as to which fences were AI and which were Inter we strided around the course confidently until Sarah hit a corner table that sent her stomach somersaulting, Brigid and Trish reassured her it was easy peasy and she and Jack would have no problem – she wasn’t convinced but off we set again until Brigid and Trish were stopped in their tracks at fence 15 - a staggered double of tables – more stomach somersaulting and comments about how it must be a mistake – but reassured by Sarah that it was easy peasy (which didn’t convince us either) we finished the course with all three of us going over and over our respective courses and the problems we were going to have at that one fence!!
Had a quick skite around the showjumping, fed and watered the horses and THEN and only THEN fell on our glasses of wine! Had a lovely BBQ with fellow guests and competitors and had to restrain ourselves from over indulging – which we did by going to bed early!
The day arrived with lovely sunshine and the arrival of Helena (with George in tow), Joanne(with Kiwi in tow), Joan, Trish Irwin, Trish Duane, Noelle and Janet. It was great to have all the support and especially the help, banter, giggles and  food glorious food!
Brigid did a very good dressage, followed by Joanne, Trish and Sarah who were all happy with their respective tests. Brigid had finished her show jumping before the rest of us got back from our dressage but unfortunately had 2 down but with a good dressage score she didn’t drop too far down and was still in contention. Next up was Trish who also had an unlucky 2 down but was thrilled anyway! Then Sarah came back beaming from a clear round!
Joanne set off first on the xc and was delighted with her clear, next up Brigid who was having a nice round until she hit the sunken road and heard the fence steward call “wrong course”. Unfortunately since we had walked the course the flags had been moved to the left and Brigid missed the change as did about 50% of the rest of the intermediate class! The number of ‘E’’s on the intermediate results sheets was extraordinary. However, Apollo was just brilliant at that scary staggered double and Brigid although disappointed was also pleased at coming home safe and sound.
Next off was Trish Gray at the speed of knots (Helena said she could see George’s head coming through the finish as his tail was leaving the starting box!!) but George was just brilliant and despite having to do a combination of three fences at the first water with only one stirrup they had a clear if fast xc (with the benefit of Brigid’s advice on the change of course) and came home beaming!
 Next up Sarah, after a few false starts due to over exuberance, eventually her time came and off she went and it all looked very professional until she came home with a major pout saying Jack was “a very bold boy”. Brigid gave her a hug and commiserations only to be told by Trish G that Sarah had had a clear round!!! It didn’t take long for the pout to turn into a beam, she was just tired because Jack had decided he wanted to make her work over the first few fences but once he got the message that she wanted to win he sped off and did the job he is known for.
Joanne in the middle of all this was quietly doing her show jumping and had a lovely clear round.
Then picnic time Hollybrook style (infested by wasps unfortunately!), singing Happy Birthday to Trish D, monkey impressions and all the usual misbehaviour and belly laughs until the results started filtering through – Joanne had won – lots of hip hip hooraying, Sarah had won – more hip hip’s. Trish G finished up 7th, 0.5 off 6th place but very happy given she had only jumped the horse for the first time that week!
Home sweet home...for more cleaning, polishing etc. etc.! A huge thanks to Helena and Joan for calming the nerves, warming up, studding, grooming and feeding! Thanks also to all the other helpers who were invaluable – Noelle (who was always at the finish to take the horse and say “take off your hat”!), Trish Irwin (for the provision of badly needed Wispa bars!), Janet for the photography and last but not least the birthday girl TRISH D!!!
Annaharvey ODE kindly written by Trish G..... thanks Trish
National Dressage Championships held at Grove Farm in Fethard Co Tipperary on Sunday 22 August
Well done to our representatives at the National Dressage Championships held at Grove Farm in Fethard Co Tipperary on Sunday 22 August.
 The advance party (Gillian, Ruth, Dervilla, Rachel, Joanne and Bridget, together with their assorted helpers, grooms and slaves) left in convoy on Saturday to make their way down country, arriving in time to settle both themselves and their trusty equines in before repairing for what was, from all reports, an amazing bed and breakfast where, suitably fed and watered, they retired for a peaceful night’s sleep in advance of the rigours the following day.
In contrast the reinforcements of Gordon, Helena, Trish, Sarah and Janet
left bleary-eyed at the crack of dawn on Sunday morning to make their
way southwards to join up with the gang.
 The day ran very smoothly, with no small thanks due to all those who rocked up to groom, feed, support and cajole.
All those riding had an enjoyable time, producing good, steady performances which left one team (Helena, Dervilla, Janet and Gordon) in 7th place and the other team (Joanne, Sarah, Gillian and Rachel) in 9th place – a very respectable result. 23 teams took part on the day and scores at the top of the team leaderboard were very tight and had some of the judges been a little more giving of the 8’s and 9’s it could have been a different result!!
Joanne took home 6th place in the Open Individual and Ruth had a good time in the Intermediate Individual.
The venue received a thumbs-up from all concerned and slightly weary at the end of a long day, the gang made their way home and voted the whole experience a very good one.
While it may seem like a ‘long, long way to Tipperary’, it really is’nt that far and well worth it for a good day out.
A special thank you to Kay, Sarah and Ursula who wrote for judges, to Noelle who helped with the
call-up and to Mary who just helped all day long and was a great support to Maire.
Roll on next year.
Dalegrove One Day Event Qualifier in Ballinasloe on Sunday 15th August 2010
Congratulations to Joanne Logue who came 1st in Open and qualifies for the National Championships in Annaharvey on Sunday12th September.
Joanne did a stunning dressage test which left her well ahead going into her crosscountry.
The course was strong but no problem to Kiwi who took it in her stride
and was clear. The two of them then completed a lovely clear jumping
round which left me in no doubt that she was well in the lead. Well done
Joanne.
I had travelled down the evening before and Mary Tuohy the club secretary had offered me overnight B&B for Apollo at no cost! The people were so  friendly and kind in Dalegrove club. After walking the crosscountry country course I felt like doing a runner back to Dublin. There were stone walls everywhere and the course was incredibly long ! Apollo however took it on and did a lovely round with only one mistake where I missed the turn for one jump and had to double back.
I had a new groom with me in the shape of my husband Brendan who very helpfully asked me while walking the course what I would do if Apollo straddled this big log and got stuck in the trough below! just what you need to bolster the morale.Nonetheless great to have an extra pair of hands.I wasnt placed but had a great day.
Brigid
Thanks Brigid for the report & the photos.
Mullingar Show Jumping Championships Sunday 18th July
A convoy of Hollybrook boxes headed off early Sunday morning last from
four different yards all headed in the direction of Mullingar for the
show jumping championships.
Joanne headed off first with Kiwi followed by Helena driving Sarah and
Jack, Joyce with George, Brigid with Apollo, Gill driving Jenny, Saskia
and Reuben and Barbara chauffering Lucy with Ben. Barbara complained
we all drove too fast but we couldnt get her over 40 on the motorway!
(joking)
The weather got progressively worse the nearer we got to Mullingar and
we all knew we were in for a soaking but didn't realise that we would
actually be drowned!
Joanne was the first to go finishing 6th in the morning qualifier
with just 4 faults and in the championship class in the afternoon had
just one down. These were big fences! Well done Joanne.
Next to go Jenny was clear first round and had four faults in the
second. Reuben was jumping really well and it was just a bit of bad luck
This was to be the pattern for the day with the same outcome for Joyce,
Brigid and Lucy who each had one down against the clock in the
Intermediate class. Joyce had a super time score and would have been
right up there if not for the one down. Brigid surprised herself by
having a go against the clock and wasnt too far behind!
Sarah bucked the trend with a smashing double clear but unfortunately
had a stop in the championship with a momentary loss of attention by
Jack.Good stuff Sarah!
Well done to all and a big thank you to Helena who guided us all through
our warm ups and preparation and was constantly rained upon.
In the afternoon after a Derby course walk and a strong pep talk
from Helena, Joyce and Brigid decided to give it a go. Ground
 conditions were awful and everyone was soaked through. Brigid went off
first and Apollo locked on to his fences to give a lovely round over
serious obstacles with just 8 faults and a time penalty. Brigid was on
cloud nine..
Then, the High point of the day, Joyce and George completed a fantastic
round in a really good time with just four faults and we knew she was in
with a good chance as very few competitors had less than 8 faults with a
lot falling off and fences being decimated!
We adjourned to the club house to have some lunch and get out of the
pouring rain and we waited and waited until all the other Derby
Competitors had gone and there were millions of them. We sent Joyce out
at regular intervals to see had they finished and eventually heard the
winner called out. JOYCE DEMPSEY
What a fantastic win on a tough course against so many competitors and
Joyce and George made it look so easy and tidy. Congratulations Joyce!!
A great day was had by all and we arrived home tired and wet but happy
but not so tired that we didnt manage to raise a glass or two to Joyce
in celebration.
------------Next week One Day Event Marguerite Lodge.--------------------------
(A big thankyou to Brigid who sent in the report .... and Sam for the photo)
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