Thomastown & District won the team championship title at the Connolly’s RED MILLS sponsored AIRC National Dressage Championships for the third time last Sunday.

The team of Charlotte Clear (Ramesses B), Eva Brennan (Golden Knight), Sharon O’Brien (Chapel Hill Tommy), and Sheena Holt (Wemyss Bay) finished with a total of 424.265% at Mullingar Equestrian Centre. They last won the championship in 2022.

Club secretary Gillian Hennessy said “As well as being on the winning team, Charlotte is also the 2024 RC E Champion, having won the RC E championship class. Charlotte only moved up the grade earlier in the year. This is a fantastic achievement. Not to be outdone, Sheena Holt, took 3rd place in the hotly contested RC P2 championship class, scoring a 77.143 in her second test. Eva Brennan was very consistent in her scores in both tests and was narrowly out of the placings in the RC N championship class. Sharon O’Brien did amazing in achieving 70.417% in her first test and 70.00% in her second test. Very consistent. It was a bittersweet ending for Yvonne Hoban (Aghslona Pop It) when her horse pulled up lame during their first test, having put in a lot of hard work having qualified as an individual. Thank you to Rachel Dowley for training us week in, week out and we look forward to your return in January 2025 when you have fully recovered. Super club who all look out for each other and I am a very proud Secretary today.”

Drynam Riding Club followed closely behind in second place after Stacy Forsyth (Granpas Grey Mist), Fiona Cox (Dellrose Boy), Naoise Traynor (Alcyon) and  Emma Fristedt (Coco Cobanaended)ended the two rounds on 417.445%, to claim the runners-up ribbons.

Abbeylands Riding Club was a close third with Chloe Kirwan (Carrigfadda Silver Lady), Eamonn Moore (Briarhill Contender), Anne Moran (Danescastle Firefly) and Marie Therese (Meade Mo Chara Darcy).

Mullingar, Burren, and Highland Lodge completed the line up in fourth, fifth, and sixth respectively.