EASTERN Region Dressage kicked off their 2017 season and the Tredstep League in Marlton Stud with almost 120 entries despite the chilly weather.

The Eastern Region was delighted to have Sarah-Jane Doyle, Mairin Cassidy and Marion Greene judging the three arenas.

The quality and standard of performance from both horses and riders was superb with many happy riders receiving qualifying scores. However, the highest score of the day was by Rebecca Payne on Casper the Ghost, receiving an unbeatable one of 74.77% to take home first placing in the new Junior Trailblazers preliminary class.

This class is for riders under the age of 16 who have never ridden above novice level and is one of several new classes for younger riders introduced by Dressage Ireland in 2017.

The preliminary classes had very large entries and it was Suzanne Garrett riding Ballinaquilkey Oyster who came out on top in the BD7 and Rebecca Payne taking the honours in the BD15 class.

The Novice BD 24 class went to Karyn Jamieson and LNG Huntingfield Cruise, while the BD23 class was won by Laura Hall and Kasala Casanova with an impressive score of 72.59%.

Fiona Doggett took the BD40 Elementary class and Rory O’Hare on DBS Anchorman took the BD45 Elementary.

Rory was also the winner of the Medium BD61 class. The advanced medium was won by Bethan Pereira on Djilano Opbroeks.

Denise Peskins was kept busy dishing out hot soup all day as competitors warmed themselves in the clubhouse where the log fire blazed all day.

Eastern Region’s next show takes place on February 11th at Marlton Stud in Co Wicklow.