With 7 qualifiers over at this stage, 13 teams from around the country have so far qualified for the AIRC National Dressage Championships, sponsored by Connolly’s RED MILLs, on Sunday 20th August at Barnadown Show Jumping near Gorey, Co, Wexford.
AIRC West Leinster
The hosts, Cill Dara Riding Club, won the opening qualifier at RedHills Stud in Kildare where 7 teams representing 6 clubs contested the decider.
The team of Sara Wood (Avalon Next Generation), Katie McParland (Lullymores Indian Summer), Julie Polden (Kilnoe Clover) and Sarah Gayer (Home Farm (IRE)) ended up on a total of 220.19% to claim the top spot.
It was a narrow victory for them as the Dunbyrne team of Lorna O’Hare (DBS Second Chance (Oren\’s Pride)), Myriam Bunter (Star Of Rubykan (IRE)), Suzanne Conroy (The Lady Yeats), Lynn Cadogan (Shooting Star Joe) followed closely behind on 217.54%.
Abbeylands completed the podium in third on 216.15%.
AIRC Midlands
Six clubs sought qualification at last month’s qualifier for the Midlands region where Annaharvey took two of the top three places.
The Offaly-based club claimed the top spot on 208.98% with a team consisting of Gina Goessling (Ardwholihane Oreo), Matilda Falkede (Darrara Shanbeg), Maureen Dillon Bowers (Doris Rebel), and Niamh Mahon (Royal Ark).
It was a narrow win with less than 1% separating the top two teams with Tara Hill taking the runner-up spot
The team of Grace O’Brien (Ballygriffin Judy), Maura Walsh (D.T.S First Flight), Miia Ruuskanen (Happy Gilmore) and Janet Cooke (Louis Two Tone) on 207.63%.
The Annaharvey club also took home the yellow ribbons on a team total of 205.83%
A full list of qualified individuals and teams from each of the qualifiers is available at this link.
AIRC West
Benbulben Riding Club filled the top two places at the AIRC West qualifier in Donegal where 6 teams sought qualification to next months final.
The team of Susie Carr (Sir Robert Cobbington), Jennifer Crowley (Ruby With A View), Nicola Walpole (Beannfhada Myles) and Emily Burke (Rock House Antonio) claimed the top spot on 222.42%.
Jennifer Burke (Rock House Lucarelli Rebel), Finola Murphy (Pot O Honey) and Edward Burke (Gladiator-S) were almost 8% behind on 214.56% to take the runners-up spot for the Sligo-based club.
Stracomer completed the podium on 213.96 in third place.
AIRC North East
A three-member team from Ard Lu Riding Club won the qualifier for clubs based in the North East region recently.
Rosie Hollywood (Blitzens Dream), Bernadette Bennett (Castlerea Princess), and Briege Laura Farrelly (Rathcline Hazy Match) registered a team tally of 423.10% giving them a narrow victory over Cheval.
The Dublin-based club of Gerry O’Byrne (Doon Finn), Rachael Reid (Gin), Alexandra Archbold (Vogue Exclusive) and John Maguire (Corballis Galtee) were just behind on 421.54% to take the blue ribbons.
Drynam Riding Club took home the yellow ribbons on 414.10%.
AIRC South East
Carne Riding Club won the South East team dressage qualifier with the Wexford based club topping the bill on a tally of 217.92.
The team of Darren Rossiter (Touch of Class), Isabelle Rouviere (Jasmine Van Ter Notelaere), Melanie Hammel (Taylor Dandy) and Lynn Sheehy (Verbier Flyer) will go forward to contest the final next month.
Denise O’Brien (Tommy B Good), Joan Rothwell (What Else), Rita Naughton (Diamant’s Babalou) and Mandy Hayden (JMF Deadly Buzz) were next best for the hosts, Tinahely Riding Club, on 213.48% with another Tinahely team taking third spot on 205%.
AIRC South West
Highland and South West Riding Club qualified for the championships from the South West region after 8 teams contested the qualifier earlier this month.
The team of Emma O’Flynn (Diane), Heather Twomey (Boothouse Cruise), Niamh Mulcahy (Coronado Clover), and Olivia Smiddy (Caspian (SWB)) ran out victors on 431.28% for Highland Lodge.
They had almost 10% of a winning margin over the South West team of Vanessa O’Sullivan (Jolly Good Fellow RSH), Kieran O’Sullivan (Comograaf), Astrid Blom (Grelson ZK), and Mairead O’Donovan (Sunvalley Tia Maria) on 422.65%
Another team from South West took third place on 408.48%.
AIRC West Midlands
Twinfort Riding Club topped the West Midlands qualifier where just three team lined out recently.
The winning team of Tabitha Millar Hagerty (Westeria Lane), Owen Smyth (Dark Site), Megan O’Gorman (Golden Cool Cat), and Tara Dalton (Get In The Van (IRE)) finished on a total of 442.42%.
It was a narrow win as the three-member team of Jackie Dow (Juno Tintreach), Siobhan Stapleton (The Peeler) and Doreen Egan (Bula Bos) from Friary scored 438.51% with Mill Road in third place.
