The regional qualifier for the AIRC National Dressage Championships, scheduled for 1 September in Mullingar Equestrian, took place in Marlton on Sunday – this was run in conjunction with the 3rd leg of their Summer Dressage League which made for a busy day for the scorers!. While the team entry was slightly disappointing, at only 5, the quality of the tests more than made up for this.
After all had ridden their first tests, Killegar were in poll position, only slightly ahead of Foxborough, with Greenvalley in 3rd. However, the Greenvalley quartet upped their game for their second tests with two riders coming in with scores over 70% which enabled them to finish the day on a team total of 69%, while Killegar slipped back a little but nonetheless their score of 67.64%, only narrowly ahead of Hollybrook’s 67.27%, was enough to ensure them of the 2nd slot at the Championships.
The RCP2, RCP3 and RCN riders also have to qualify for individual places at the championships and Clonough’s Danielle Cullen (Redmondstown Blue) came out on top in the P2 class, just ahead of Greenvalley’s Niall Kearney (Ballintartin Patch), with the same club’s Ruth Abbott (CCS Banksy Moon) in 3rd. The RCP3 winner was the very consistent Fran O’Neill from Brooke Lodge with Bolgerstown Commet, followed by Enniskerry’s Mary Fenelon Bourke (Enniskerry Trendy), while Many Hayden from Tinahely (JMF Deadly Buzz), who had travelled up from the South East Region took the 3rd qualifying place in this section.
RCN honours went to Killegar’s Jillian Southern (Ardmount Rio) with Hollybrook’s Dervilla Glynn (Ballustree Oki Doki) and Marion Miley (Sancisco Bay) coming 2nd and 3rd respectively.
So the Greenvalley team of Niall Kearney (Ballintartin Patch), Ruth Abbott (CCS Banksy Moon), Lianna Sabo (Horseplay Diamond Matrix) and Susanne Cunningham (Doogary Dude) and Killegar’s Daniel Jeckle (La Joie Du Pere), Jillian Southern (Ardmount Rio) and Amy MacCarvill (Ard Armareta) will be travelling to Mullingar to defend the title which Hollybrook won for the region in 2023.
You can find updated Qualified Rider & Horse Combinations at this link: AIRC National Dressage Championships 2024
Report: Hilary MacHugh
