Having checked the forecast for Sunday almost every day last week, I decided the best approach was going to be relying on the woman of the hour to see us right. Safe to say Orla pulled out all the stops and provided us with a really nice autumnal day. We had one brief spit of rain, and we all thought the RC100 class was going to get a downpour, but the weather gods decided to treat us right and our show enjoyed bright, if somewhat chilly, weather.
The last AIRC show in the area was the Donegal Gaeltacht riding club’s ‘Lawrence Smyth Memorial’ beach show, on the August bank holiday weekend, so riders had had a chance to work up a bit of a hunger for an outing. Added to this was the fact that the first leg of the North West Autumn League is being held next Sunday, in the same venue as our “Orla” show, meaning that an outing with us was an ideal warm-up for the league. The result was that we had great support from our neighboring clubs, with riders coming from as far as south Co. Sligo to take on the Seamus McCaffrey designed show jumping course, or to strut their stuff in front of Dressage Ireland listed judge Yvonne Chisholm. The Torrens family had, as always, ensured that Greenacres Equestrian Centre was in excellent condition, with all three arenas immaculate, the canteen in full service, and the car park clean and clear.
Dressage kicked off at 11am and the programme included a full range of ‘Open’ classes to enable dressage enthusiasts plenty of opportunities to try out different tests at various levels. Judge Yvonne Chisholm saw 20 combinations pass through the arena (some in somewhat questionable directions and at speeds that might have earned the riders a couple of points on their licence if it was a tarred road) and managed to send everyone away with encouraging comments and a feeling that all may not, after all, be lost! Results from the dressage arena are as follows:
| Class | Place | Rider | Horse | Club |
| RCP1 | 1st | Sara McGowan | High Cross Ruby | Letterkenny |
| RCP1 Open | 1st 2nd | Patricia Ward Erica Robb | Cara Touche Prince Loughmelvin Nonin | Tirconaill Letterkenny |
| RCP2 | 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th | Victoria Hopkins Jennie Peoples Liz Potter Veronica Lafferty Ann Keaney Veronica Lafferty | Madge’s Lane Jen Ballybay Girl Clyde Comet Roxy of Leckaun Chicago | Stracomer Letterkenny Dgl Gaeltacht Inishowen Stracomer Inishowen |
| RCP2 Open | 1st 2nd | Erica Robb Anna Cathcart | Loughmelvin Nonin Carlito Diamond | Letterkenny Letterkenny |
| RCP3 | 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th | Lauren McLaughlin Lynne Thompson Anne Chambers Anne Chambers Amy McGarvey | Cullion Midnight Blue LTF Democratic Queen Cicatriz Dunwiley Cassius Fin Rough Diamond | Inishowen Inishowen Letterkenny Letterkenny Stracomer |
| RCP3 Open | 1st | Rachel Carton | Aughavannon Merlin | Letterkenny |
| RCN | 1st 2nd 3rd | Claire Kirkwood Rachel Carton Francis McNicholl | Dominoe’s Way Aughavannon Merlin Kerrykeel Darcey | Inishowen Letterkenny Letterkenny |
Traditionally the Orla show was a Derby show, with some memorable Friday and Saturday evenings spent enclosing arenas and building courses on green-field sites. In recent years the climate has conspired against jumping on grass in Donegal and the show has evolved onto an all-weather extravaganza. This year we decided to forego a derby style course and run two-phase show jumping instead, with the addition of highly affordable training classes to enable riders to warm up or bring on younger mounts. The format took some combinations by surprise as both steed and rider, expecting a breather after eight or nine jumps, found they were having to memorise and navigate fourteen jumps with sixteen jumping efforts. The course definitely took a bit of riding, with a tricky stile on a dog-leg half way through and a short double following on from a long run to the previous oxer. The second round provided a couple of time saving options for those brave enough to take them, but accuracy and careful jumping proved the order of the day for successful competitors on a day where clear rounds were few and far between in the higher classes. Judge Cormac McCormac had little difficulty in separating the prize winners in the end.
RC70 1st Mary Walker, Dawn, Donegal Gaeltacht
2nd Seana Sheridan, Lady Penelope, Stracomer
3rd Eilish Calgie, Madges Lane Jen, Stracomer
4th Amy McGarvey, Fin Rough Diamond, Stracomer
5th Lynne Thompson, LTF Democratic Queen, Inishowen
6th Eilish Calgie, Stracomer Golddigger, Stracomer
RC80 1st Liz Potter, Clyde, Donegal Gaeltacht
2nd Veronica Lafferty, Comet, Inishowen
3rd Victoria Hopkins, Madges Lane Jen, Stracomer
4th Hiudai Harkin, Fin Rough Diamond, Donegal Gaeltacht
5th Regina Toland, Grand Redelis, Letterkenny
6th Veronica Lafferty, Chicago, Inishowen
RC90 1st Charlie Vial, Vancouver Cruise, Tirconaill
2nd Jennifer Bonner, Autumn Cannon, Donegal Gaeltacht
3rd Mickey McHugh, Lily, Donegal Gaeltacht
4th Shane McCole, Lisbrogan Swatch, Stracomer
5th Patricia Ward, Cara Touche Prince, Tirconaill
6th Anna Cathcart, Carlito Diamond, Letterkenny
RC100 1st Anne Chambers, Cicatriz, Letterkenny
2nd Shane McCole, Lisbrogan Swatch, Stracomer
3rd Stephen Greene, Indian Puzzle, Stracomer
4th Anna Cathcart, Carlito Diamond, Letterkenny
5th Mark Ward, Wild Child, Tirconaill
Letterkenny riding club are extremely grateful for the support and goodwill shown at our show in memory of Orla. She was a special lady and it was great to see so much enthusiasm and supportive, sporting spirit in her honor. Roll on 2025.
Photos below of the cup and shield winners on the day. For a comprehensive collection of photos please check out the Facebook pages of the five AIRC clubs in the Donegal District. Uploading multiple photos is beyond the abilities of my prehistoric laptop.
Letterkenny Riding Club 