South West Riding Club took the top spot in the Connolly’s Red Mills Team Dressage Championship Qualifier for AIRC South West where seven clubs took part at Hitchmough’s Equestrian Centre, Co. Cork last Sunday.

The South West club was in the lead after the morning tests and after the second round of tests were complete, it became clear that the Cork-based club could not be beaten after they produced another round of impressive performances.

The team of Bernadette McCarthy (Greystone Mist), Ruth Hegarty (Proud Celtic Horizon), Eileen Moloney (ODT Silke Seal) and Astrid Blom (Grelson ZK) finished on a score of 425.09% which gave them a considerable advantage over Kerry Riding Club in the runners-up spot.

Astrid Blom had the highest score of the day with 75.48% in her morning test on her eight-year-old grey stallion.

The Kerry team with only three riders – Avril Groves Geary (George Boy), Carolann Sweeney O’Sullivan (Jump on Jules) and Mary Bradley (Mister Boombastic) – finished on 418.09% which put them just ahead of the third-placed Highland Lodge team on 417.53%.

The top two teams have qualified for the Connolly’s Red Mills Team Dressage Championship which takes place on Sunday 19th August at Mullingar Equestrian.

For a list of those who have qualified for the individual championships, click on this link.

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