Seven teams representing five clubs contested the first of this year’s AIRC National Dressage Championships Qualifiers at Killossery Lodge Stud last Saturday.
Teams from Cheval and Castle Hill secured the two places on offer at the North East qualifier for the Connolly’s Red Mills sponsored final at Mullingar in early August.
The Cheval club qualified in first place after Geraldine Gaul (Shotgun George), Rachael Reid (Gin), Gerry O’Byrne (Doon Finn) and Claire O’Dwyer (Knockmullen Lad) finished on a total of 425.21%.
The Dublin based club held a winning margin of 11% over the runners-up from Castle Hill after their team of Kate Hutcheson (Dolmen De Klerk), Anne Dickinson (Rocklawns Warrior), Klara Ralph O’Connor (Castleview Ozzie) and Genia de Souza (Abbeylands Ard Ri) on 414.32.
The Drynam club completed the podium in third place on 411.25% but narrowly missed out on a qualifying spot which would have allowed them to defend their team title after they won the championship in 2019 when they last took place.
Meanwhile, the individuals who have also qualified for the Championships have also been confirmed.
A full list of qualified riders and horses is available at this link.
