Belfast Royal Academy hosted the event; it has been running since November with a competition each month to distinguish which school would gain the title of Ulster Champions 2008.
Nerves on Saturday were running high from both riders and teachers as all was still to play for to determine who would walk away with the silver wear. The course on the final day proved to be very challenging but fair.
In the Novice team competition only two team's finished on a zero score, B.R.A and Dalriada. Kim Campbell and Rachel Allen for Dalriada were drawn first to go in the jump-off but four faults from Rachel meant that all B.R.A had to do was to produce two steady clear rounds but a fall on the flat from Sarah Sproule meant that Dalriada won the competition.
This win from Dalriada was not enough to put them ahaead in the league table, so Belfast Royal Academy for the second year running walked away with the title of 'Novice Ulster Champions 2008' by five points clear of Dalriada in Second and Friends in a well deserved third.
In the open event the pressure was on as there was only six points separating the top four teams.
The underdogs Ballyclare High School produced four excellent rounds to be the only team to finish on zero faults and win the competition. Friends, Coleraine and B.R.A all finished on four faults and had to jump-off. Catherine Jackson and Charolette Creighton from Friends held their nevre and produced two fast times to beat Coleraine and B.R.A. But a fourth place finish for B.R.A meant that they had done enough to win the league and gain the title for the second year running of 'Open Ulster Champions 2008'. Coleraine H.S moved up from third to finish in second ahead of Larne Grammar who had been in a close second throughout the league.
In the individual competition the Campbell Boys came out on top ahead of all the girls to take first and second in the league. Harold Megahy from Campbell won the competition on Saturday in fine style ahead of Lauren Court from Ballyclare Secondary.
This result from Harold meant that it moved him up to second position in the league, but this was not good enough to beat his team mate David Gibson who won the Individual Ulster Champion award 2008 by four points.
The generous sponsors of this Championship are Bailey's Horse Feeds, Old Mill Saddlery, O'Connor Kennedy Turtle Estate Agents, Malcolm's Jewellers, Country Kids Creche, Johnston's Saddlery (Banbridge) and Royal Irish Regiment Army Recruitment Team. For further information please Stuart or Jillian Tel 07736009189 or email ulsterschoolsshowjumping@hotmail.com
Many thanks to Judges Roberta Brown and Carolyn Reynolds. Also many thanks Knockagh View for the use of their great facilities.
Ulster schools showjumping would also like to thank all those schools who travelled from all over the province and look forward to seeing them all next year.
Results
Individual results: 1, Harold Megahy – Campbell College; 2, Lauren Court – Ballyclare Secondary School; 3, Ann McKinney – St Louis Grammar School; 4, Saoirse McLaughlin – St Patricks P.S; 5, Laura Fekkes – Ulidia Integrated College; 6, David Gibson – Campbell College.
Novice Team Results: 1, Dalriada – Rachel Allen, Rebecca Knipe, Julie Steele, Kim Campbell; 2, Belfast Royal Academy – Sarah Sproule, Amy Wilson, Beth Moss, Anne Sheridan; 3, Ulidia Integrated College – Ruth Steele, Hannah Irwin, Emily Cloke, Charlotte Steele; 4, Friends – Flora Lawson, Rebecca Hannah, Charlotte Creighton, Ria McLean; 5, Sullivan Upper – Lucy Lavery, Kerry Chrystal, Amy Beggs; 6, Belfast High School – Susan Burnett, Courtney Ferris, Cheryl-Anne Herron, Mary Burnett,
Open Team Results
1, Ballyclare High School – Ian Megahey, Beth McFarland, Kirk Johnston, Sophie Bell; 2, Friends – Catherine Jackson, Rebehah Hannah, Charolette Creighton, Emma White; 3, Coleraine High School – Rosie Alcorn, Harriet Bell, Anna White, Jenny Smith; 4, Belfast Royal Academy - Cathy Moss, Emma Brown, Amy Reynolds, Bronagh Kelly; 5, Larne Grammar – Justin Wright, Amy Fekkes, Kym McAleese.
Individual league tables

Ulster School Individual Champion 2008
1, Campbell College, David Gibson, 35; 2, Campbell College, Harold Megahey, 31; 3, Ballyclare Secondary, Lauren Court, 31; 4, Ulidia Intregated College, Laura Fekkes/Silvester, 29; 5, St Patrick's Primary, Saoirse McLoughlin, 24; 6, St Louis G.S, Anne McKinney, 21.
League tables
Ulster Schools Novice Team Champions 2008
1, Belfast Royal Academy, 44; 2, Dalriada, 39; 3, Friends, 35; 4, Ulidia Integrated, 28; 5, Sullivan Upper, 24; 6, St Patrick's Academy A, 22; 7, Belfast High School, 18; 8, St MacNissis, 15; 9, R.S.D, 11; 10, Regent House, 9; =, Ballyclare H.S, 9.
Ulster Schools Open Team Champions 2008
1, Belfast Royal Academy, 41; 2, Coleraine High School, 37; 3, Larne Grammar, 37; 4, Ballyclare H.S , 31; 5, Friends, 31; 6, St Coleman's, 27; 7, B.R.A (Seniors), 12; =, Dromore H.S, 12; 9, Ballymena Academy, 6; 10, Wallace H.S, 5; =, St Patrick's Academy, 5.