The weather was gloriously hot, perhaps a little too hot for the horses, but they coped well. A few "old hands" wisely picked the best slots to park in the field where there was shade all day. Others have taken note, so watch out next year!
It was a packed timetable for event secretary Sylvia Ingram to get 25 turnouts through all the phases, but everything just about fitted into the day.
Dressage Judge Harold Bunting was kept busy in baking heat, but all credit to him as he gave very useful comments. Jackie Niblock had designed a challenging cones course, so much so that Grace Hurrell was the only double clear. Edwin Bryson, Terry Taylor and Alex Bryson may have had the speed, but not the accuracy.
In the marathon section, full use was made of the estate tracks. Everyone had to keep their wits about them regarding markers to keep to the allocated track. There were some "detours", but not too many. As usual, Billy McCombe designed five excellent obstacles. The first was the water, which brought turnouts into dazzling sunshine from a shady but fast forest drive. A tree obstacle followed next that had a "will I or won't I" challenge with knockdowns. A large number took the risk and pulled it off, but it took a healthy toll of penalties. The other three obstacles followed in quick succession without much respite, so drivers had to keep their wits about them. It was an excellent course with a variety of challenges for turnouts.
Needless to say, the barbeques were out before the end of the day and ice creams on offer at the chip van were very popular.
The results were:
Novice Pony
1st Sinead McIntyre, 2nd Vicki Lyons, 3rd Judith McKeever, 4th Rachel Campbell, 5th Edward Goodwin, 6th Terry Taylor
Novice Horse
1st Louis Magill, 2nd Karen Garrett, 3rd Dorothy Kelly, 4th Denise Taylor
Open Pony
1st Grace Hurrell
Open Horse
1st Edwin Bryson, 2nd Alex Bryson, 3rd Eric Glass
Pony Pairs
1st Gay Ferris, 2nd Eddie Ingram, 3rd Noel Stewart
Horse Pairs
1st Sean Mulholland
Allsorts Class
1st Dawn O'Donnell
NICDA would like to extend sincere thanks to landowners Frank and Rose Boyd for use of Rademon Estate. Thanks also to event organisers Jackie Niblock and Marian Pentland for putting the event together; Sam and Matthew Pentland for section A; obstacle course designer Billy McCombe and cones course designer Jackie Niblock. Thanks to our judges on the day, presentation judge Philip Titterington and dressage judge Harold Bunting, score keepers Pam, Joyce and Ann plus all the stewards and everyone that helped in so many ways.
The next events in NICDAs calendar are: Lurgan Show 7th June; Lisnabrague Fun Day at Edwin Bryson's, Scarva 8th June; Waringstown HDT on Saturday14th June and Louis Magill's fund raising "Night of the Races" at The Gate Restaurant, Gawleys Gate on Friday 20th June.