STORM Emma may have affected the country’s bread supply but it certainly didn’t affect Ireland’s riders, 90 of whom turned out at the Eastern Region’s show held at Marlton Stud.

After a stressful few weeks with the weather conditions, it seemed like all the horses and riders were only delighted to put on their dancing shoes and show off to the judges after being cooped up for so long! Judges on the day were Alison Mastin-Moore, Lynne Cassidy, Bernie Foley and Eithne O’Kelly.

In the training introductory class, Katie Gregory riding Cracker Jack took home first place. Caroline Beckett on Bolgerstown Dancer won the Welcome to Dressage Preliminary test, with Amy Lambert and Ross Star winning the Junior Trailblazers Preliminary test. The Preliminary registered category was won by Sharron O’Connor and Ashwood Diamond Pride, while Laragh Byrne on Mr Money Bags won the junior registered category of the class. The Preliminary DI registered category one was won by Fionnan Kiernan O’Brien on Kildalton Rare Gem.

Registered Category Two was won by Heidi Slott-Jorgensen with Cantos De Light. The unregistered category saw Avril Kelly on Beech Mount Dot Com take home first place. The Junior Trailblazers Novice class was won by Oscar O’Connor on Birtley Rainbow Quest and the Senior Trailblazers Novice class was won by Tara Barrett riding The Duning.

In the first registered category of the Novice BD class, Fionnan Kiernan O’Brien won again with Kildalton Rare Gem. Niamh Nolan took home a red rosette after winning the second registered category with Barravalley Lightning. The third registered category was won by David Freeney who rode Ballotelli and the junior registered category gave a red rosette to the deserving Rebecca Payne on Blackwood Dancer.

The Novice DI registered category one went to the combination of Sinead Ellis and Westcoast Cougar. The second registered category was won by Niamh Nolan, again on Barravalley Lightening. Jo May won the third registered category while riding Happy Gilmore. Niamh Nolan was on a winning streak when she picked up her third red rosette of the day after winning the Elementary DI class in the first registered category, but this time riding CLS Stay with Her Johnny.

The second registered category went to Kevin Acres on Little Miss Day Dream, while Bronte Collins was awarded first place in the Registered Junior Category while riding Reduster Martin. Margaret McMullin won the Elementary BD class for her performance on Papamoa Beech.

The Medium BD61 class was won by Jane Carrol and Kandinsky 6. Victoria O’Carroll also placed first in the Medium BD 73 class while riding Furst Romanoff. The Advanced Medium BD 96 class was won by Karen Bennett who rode Urco. The Advanced Medium BD 92 class was won by Rosemary Gaffney on Bink. Another repeat winner in the advanced class – Kevin Acres took home a second title after placing first with Saint Emilion 2, but Acres wasn’t done yet – placing first yet again with Saint Emilion 2 in the Prix Saint George FEI class.

The Intermediate 1 FEI class awarded Sonya McCormack with first place on Bounce Back George. Tara Hayes won both the Confirmed Class Pony Rider FEI Team Test and the Confirmed Class Pony Rider FEI Individual Test while riding Harley. The two Para classes of the day were won by Rosemary Gaffiney and Bink. The duo took home first place in both the Para Para Grade IV FEI Individual Test and the Team Team test.