Ashbrook Riding Club won The Irish Field sponsored team dressage challenge at the Riding Clubs Festival at Stradbally Hall Estate, Co. Laois last Sunday for the third successive year and also filled the top two places.

This years contest was a much closer affair as less than less than five percent separated the top three teams out of the 20 which took part in the competition.

Dearbhaile Fitzsimons was the star performer for the winning team as the club chairperson gave the team their highest percentage of 76.90 on Erin Son of Mabel. Michael Moore (Guaranteed Gold) provided the next highest score of 74.62. Jane Averill on Moneybog Black Jack also scored highly with a score of 74.29. Anne O’Dowd provided the discard score on FCD Touch of Class with a respectable 64.81.

This gave the team a total of 225.81 and kept them just ahead of another Ashbrrok team of John Gavin (Good News Charlie), Margaret Aughney (FCD Something Special, Margaret Brannigan (Out of the Blue) and Michael Moore (Smart Decision) on 223.56.

Killcarrick Riding Club claimed third place for the second year in a row on 221.43.