AMATEUR riders are no strangers to the RDS main arena, but this year proved a bit different as all the qualified riders got their chance to experience the spectacular arena over the Alan Wade-designed course.

In total, 31 combinations lined out on Saturday, bidding for the coveted title. Eventually it was third rider in, Gillian Blanche (A), riding Bellegrove Prima Donna, who was crowned Amateur Champion when she galloped home clear in 42.07 seconds.

Gillian, who is from Ballybrittas in Co Laois, is a newly trained solicitor. She is no stranger to the RDS having qualified for this championship from 2015-2019 successively.

Equally as experienced as her rider, Bellegrove Prima Donna is a 16-year-old mare by Lux Z out of the Tenor de La Cour-sired Lady Belle Grove.

The family decided to breed from Bellegrove Prima Donna, taking two embryos from her which are both by Air Jordan I. A delighted Gillian Blanche said: “I am delighted with the win and it only took six visits to the RDS to bring home the red rosette. We had been close on a few occasions and the dream finally came through.

“The mare is super and a real tryer. We hadn’t been out a whole lot due to the pandemic and when we jumped the first round, she had a good look at the fences. By the time we got to the jump-off, she had switched on and was ready to go for it. I would like to thank my Mum for all her support and to my trainer Derek McConnell.”

Technical track

Competitors faced a technical course, which consisted of a skinny vertical at three, followed by a combination (vertical, oxer to vertical) at five. They then went left-handed to a water tray and then the double later at nine (oxer-vertical) and then on to the eye-catching Children of Lir swan oxer and on to the penultimate fence, a vertical over a water tray.

Despite the technicality of the course, the first clear was delivered by Tinahely primary school teacher Aine Dagg and her home-bred Rock View Flight. Following this foot-perfect round, a further two (A ) riders booked their place against the clock. These three riders were later joined by eight AA riders.

First to go, against the clock, Dagg once again delivered another good round with Rock View Flight in a time of 43.92 seconds. Bred by the Dagg family, the 12-year-old mare is by Barnaby Flight (ISH) out of Liath From The Fair. The mare has a three-year-old on the ground which they hope will follow in the dam’s footsteps.

The Dagg family are no strangers to this competition with Aine’s sister Marie also competing in the championship at Dublin in previous years. Aine is also trained by her brother-in-law, Waterford international show jumping rider Paddy O’Donnell.

Next to go with Cavalino 26, Leonie Dunne ((A) rider) proved out of luck when she hit the penultimate oxer in a time of 39.10 for eventual fifth.

In the AA division, fence five, the very apt Sliotar/Hurley sticks fence at five caught a few out and first of those was Máire Cosgrove and Killuppaun Magic. Despite the four faults, a fast time of 38.68 was enough to slot them into eventual fourth place. Owned by Martin Flesk, the 13-year-old mare is by Hermes De Reve out of the Cavalier Royale-sired Cavalier Arch. The mare has been campaigned by her owner Martin, and placed third at the RDS in 2019.

A previous winner of this RDS championship, Lusk’s Paul Carroll and Kabran De Reve Z also fell victim to the sliotar/hurley sticks oxer and his time of 41.52 saw him take sixth place. Going later in the draw, Kilkenny’s Marie Hartley knew what she needed to do as she took to the course with Nikita Van Het Heidenhof, and cheered on by the spectators in the stands, she galloped home in 42.27 to take second place and demote Dagg into third place.

Owned by Hartley, the eight-year-old Belgian warmblood mare was bred by Jozef Van Miert and is by Cumthago C out of Clever-Lady Paardehoeve. The combination went into this championship on a strong note, taking the runner-up slot in the 1.10m Mervue 1.10m at Coilog Equestrian the week before. Prior to this, they also took the win in the Leinster Amateur Tour at Inistioge.