Five teams have qualified for next months Connolly’s Red Mills Team Dressage Championship final after two regional qualifiers took place at the weekend.
Nine teams contested the South East qualifier at Kilotteran Equitation Centre in County Waterford where Carne Riding Club claimed the top spot after strong performances from Melanie Hammel (Taylor Slaney Cruise), Nessa O’Sullivan (Wexford Moondance) Anne Clune (Ragazella Bella) and Gemma Cousins (Bridgetown Dancer).
The Wexford based club finished on a total of 205.54% which gave them a slim winning margin over the runners-up from Warrington. The team of Alan Cope (Newtown Lad), Caroline O’Neill (Miss Double Dutch), Marie Louise Nolan (June Flight) and Fiona Morrissey (Brent) completed the day on 202.02%.
The remaining ticket for the final went to a three-member team from Barrow Valley on 195.47%.
Elsewhere, Clonlara and Twinfort Riding Clubs secured their place at the championship final after they took the top two places at the West Midlands qualifier.
Six teams contested decider at Clonlara Equestrian Centre in Limerick where the Clonlara quartet of Anthony Quigley (Miss Murphy), Marianne Pilote (Baltydaniel Silver Prince), Patricia Mc Dermott (Saddlers Mystery IRE) and Tara Dalton (Kildalton Rare Gem) recorded an emphatic win.
Their team score of 208.86% kept them well ahead of second placed Twinfort on 203.15%
Meanwhile, 4 teams qualified from the North-East region at their recent qualifier at Ravensdale.
The Ashbrook team of Laura Fitzsimons (Kilronan Duff), Margaret Brannigan (Out of the Blue), Jane Averill (Moneybog Black Jack) and Michael Moore (Guaranteed Gold) won on a team score of 439.47%.
It was a narrow win for the North Dublin-based club as they finished slightly ahead of Cheval in second place on 438.91%. Ashbrook and Castle Hill took the remaining two tickets on offer to the final with scores of 433.09% and 431.42% respectively.
