Marlton Stud was the venue for the South Leinster Region’s Dressage Qualifier on Sunday. While the day started with rain, this did dry up fairly quickly, and we had balmy and very warm conditions for the rest of the day, resulting in competitors being allowed to ride without jackets.
A good entry of 10 teams plus individuals produced 137 tests, which were judged by Michael Moore, Mairin Cassidy, Claire Fitzsimons, and Vicky Clooney, using 3 arenas. Team scores were very close and, at the halfway point, Hollybrook had nosed ahead of Foxborough by a mere 0.7% while the second Hollybrook team, one of the Greenvalley teams, and Brooke Lodge were only a little over 1% point behind. All to play for in the second tests, and Hollybrook held their nerve and the team of Joanne Logue (Little Lottie), Roisin McMackin (Courcel Queen Bee), Amanda MacGowan (Calliaghstown Flight), and Helen Webb (Belline Princess India) came out on top with a final score of 70.76%. Brooke Lodge overtook Foxborough, producing a final result of 70.57% and Foxborough came in third with 69.71% – in effect, a mere 1% between these three teams. As there were 10 teams taking part, these three will represent South Leinster in the Finals at Mullingar in August.
Individual qualification is required for the RCP2, RCP3 and RCN grades and, again, there was tough competition here. Ruth Abbott with CCS Banksy Moon came in 1st in the RCP2 grade, closely followed by Danielle Cullen (Clonough) and Hasenacher Forrest Gump, with Greenvalley’s Niall Kearny (Doogary Dude) taking the 3rd qualifying slot.
18 entries in the RCP3 class gave riders a lot to ride for and, after two tests were added up and percentaged, Celia Taylor and her Mistral Rose came to the top for Brooke Lodge, followed by Hollybrook’s Courcel Queen Bee and Roisin McMackin, while the 3rd slot went the way of another Hollybrook rider – Lisa Devine and Tinkerbelle.
While the entry was lower (12) in the RCN, competition was no easier and emerging as winners were Killegar’s Jillian Southern and Ardmount Rio, with Louise Lynn and Paulank Brockagh in 2nd place and Kate Fortune and Gilanolinde for Enniskerry taking the final slot.
It was a long day’s judging and the Committee would like to thank the judges and, particularly the volunteers who did trojan work, scribing, calling up and scoring for the day. Onward now to Mullingar and wishing all those who qualified the very best of luck.
The updated Qualified Rider & Horse Combinations can be found at this link.
Written by: Hilary MacHugh
