The NER Dressage Qualifiers were held at Killossery Lodge Stud on Saturday 20th June hosted again this year by Boyneside and Copperfield Riding Clubs headed up by the dream team organisers of Jane Whitaker and Sarah Richardson, supported by their fellow club members who the day ran smoothly, with a friendly atmosphere and with great team spirit from participating clubs. Everyone was kept hydrated and fed by Siobhan and memories were captured by Jane Emily Photos. Laura, Ciaran and their team at Killossery had the arenas all ready and well presented for Saturday.
It was a very busy yet glorious sunny day with 43 combinations riding the two championship tests within 50 minutes of each other with two arenas set up in Killossery’s Kruisette Main Arena.
The earlier classes (RCM and RCE and RCN) were overseen by List 2 judge Bernie Webb and List 3 judge Jean Halpenny. Ashbrook’s John Gavin took the win in the RCM class and was the only competitor with Holyswell Spark. In the RCE fellow clubmate Anne O’Dowd finished first place with Until Proven Guilty with Thornton’s Zara Bolger and Enoville Jade.
There was a large increase in the RCN class this year compared to last year with Killcarrick’s Claire Maher with Gransha Midnight Magic taking the win with another Ashbrook member, Louise Fellowes, and Caherbrack Tim taking 2nd.
Bernie Webb also judge the popular RCP2 class and Jean Halpenny which was won by Castle Hills Elaine Mulligan with DMF Alphabet with Regional Secretary Laura Reynolds with Barryswell Rachet from Drynam taking 2nd.
The largest class of the day RC P3 with 18 combinations, was judged by List 4 judge Elena Satalkina and List 5 judge Maire Quinlan Pluck. Fingal’s Nicole Groyer with Peninsula Paradis took the win and also got one of the Best Turned Out prizes on the day. 2nd Place was Calliaghstown’s Maya Sammon with Birchill Drama Chick.
The RC P1 class judged by Bernie Webb and Jean Halpenny was dominated by Castle Hill Members taking 4 out of the 5 places. 1st place went to Canice Carroll with My Fellow closely followed in second place with Nttalie Haake and Dunlue Ruibin.
In the hotly contested team event, Ashbrook’s team of John Gavin, Anne O’Dowd, Louise Fellowes and Gerry Byrne took the win and won the beautiful perpetual trophy in member of Ashbrook’s Mags Aughney. Long-serving Ashbrook Member Claire Fitzsimons presented this very special trophy. 2nd Place was the Castle Hill Blue Team – Castle Hill had 3 teams entered out of a total of 8 times. This 2nd place time was made up of Niamh Murphy and Sarah Quinn, who were on last year’s winning team, along with class winners Elaine Mulligan and Canice Carroll.
The event was overseen by Boyneside’s Secretary/Regional Secretary, Sarah Richardson and Copperfields Secretary/Regional Chair Jane Whitaker, supported by their fellow club members who ensured the day ran smoothly and as quickly as possible in the blistering heat with great team spirit from participating clubs. Everyone was kept hydrated and fed by Siobhan, and memories were captured by Jane Emily Photos. Laura and her team at Killossery had the arenas all ready and well presented for Saturday.
Written by: North East Region
