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The weekend of the 21^st – 23^rd April was very important for Irish Eventers.  This was the first International event of the season on Irish soil.  One year 12 student, Hollie Smith, from New-Bridge Integrated College had been working very hard all winter in preparation for this prestigious event.  She had prepared three of her horses to compete.

This eventing season started with a long trip to Cork for Hollie.  Here she competed in the CNCJ* competition and ended up with 4^th place.  Hollie then went on to compete at Tyrella I.  This event saw her placed 2^nd, 8^th and 17^th on her three horses.  Then it was back to Tyrella the following week for another CNCJ* competition.  This time Hollie was placed 6^th, 12^th and 14^th in her class.  These successful runs meant that Hollie had now qualified to compete internationally.

The hours of preparation, lessons and fitness work were well worth it as Hollie was accepted to compete at her first International event at Ballindenisk, Cork.  They made the journey down and Hollie and her horses took the atmosphere of their first time under the Irish flag with ease.    Hollie competed 2 of her horses in the CCIJ* class and the other one was entered into the CIC*.

Hollie achieved very good dressage scores on all three horses.  Her horse, Baby Roller, performed the best out of the three with clear jumping efforts on both the Show Jumping and Cross Country phases and only a handful of time faults to add to her dressage score of 56.4 leaving her in 19^th position.  Hill Dancer performed the best in the dressage phase scoring a 50.6, but a little mishap out cross country and a couple of show jumping poles hitting the ground meant that he moved to 29^th place overall.  Anvil Lodge Pinnochio jumped out of his skin on the cross country course and with only one pole falling in the very technical show jumping course he took home 25^th place.

Hollie thoroughly enjoyed her first experience at an International Event.  She got to watch her childhood idols from all over the world come to compete at Ballindenisk.  Hollie has her sights set on Tattersalls International Horse Trials, Co. Meath at the end of May where she hopes to improve her scores and maybe even be selected as part of the Irish Junior Squad this year.

The School Show Jumping team are very proud of our fellow rider and wish Hollie all the best as she continues her preparations for Tattersalls.

Horse	Rider (CompNo)	NAL	DE	D%	DT	XCF	XCT	XC	SJF	SJT	SJ	Total	Plc	Pts
Anvil Lodge Pinnochio	Hollie Smith (92)		0	62.39%	56.4	0	0	0	4	0	4	60.4	25	2
Hill Dancer	Hollie Smith (122)		0	66.25%	50.6	20	0.8	20.8	8	0	8	79.4	29	0
Baby Roller	Hollie Smith (224)		0	62.39%	56.4	8	0	8	0	0	0	64.4	19	2

 

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