This article is from page 35 of the 2008-02-26 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 35 JPG
ENNISTYMON students in have gone horse mad after making history for the town in the Hoofprints show- jumping inter-school challenge.
The craze started at an Irish nation- al schools event in Ballinasloe after a local team was the first ever from Ennistymon to enter. On January 23, students from the CBS Ennistymon and Scoil Mhuire joined together and formed a team to enter the na- tional show-jumping event.
“IT was out doing a hunt and was talking to kids that had been involved in the Hoofprints events before through their schools so I thought
that it would be good to put the idea forward to the students at school,” said CBS teacher Aisling Haugh.
In this competition there is usu- ally divisions or groups that separate beginners, such as the Ennistymon team, from teams that have entered in the event previously.
Due to this year being the first year it was held in the Creagh Equestrian Center in Ballinasloe it was made into one group which made it diffi- cult for all the novice groups to do well. “Next year I believe that the team will do better as every year will be more experience for the stu- dents therefore they will be getting better every time they go,” said CBS
teacher Aisling Haugh.
“Currently there are second to fifth years involved and it is open to all years aS we hope to have as many available as possible next year.”
The people involved in the event from the CBS Ennistymon were Brendan Collins fifth year and Ca- thal McMahon second year while the people involved from the Scoil Mhuire were Aoife Haugh and Jean Kelleher both from fourth year.
“The pupils performed well con- sidering it was their first time in the event and also had fun, so it was a good day over all,’ commented the teacher on the day as a whole.
The pupils enjoyed the day they de-
cided to stay longer and do the indi- vidual class ride in the end.
Participation from both schools was a good point in itself as it shows the ability of the two schools to work together. The group intends to hold a sponsored ride in the coming school terms for team fundraising.
“This year there is a lot of interest so I though of fundraising for cloth- ing for the team next year,” said Ais- ling Haugh.
“IT see good potential for the schools teams in the future if this interest continues in the events.”
The schools team is participating in upcoming events in Kilkenny, Wick- low and Claregalway.