TROYTOWN Grey Abbey Veterinary Services were the generous sponsors of the fourth leg of the Kavanaghs of Newbridge Dressage league, hosted by Killcarrick Riding Club at Redhills Stud, Co Kildare, last Sunday, by kind permission of Jenny and Karl Heffernan.

The open class saw Deirdre Kane (Greenills RC) post the highest score of the day with an amazing 77.30% on her homebred 11-year-old gelding Mighty Clever. Marian Murphy of Calliaghstown RC was second on Roxy with 71.53 and Sheena Boran, also from Calliaghstown, completed the top three with 68.68% on Herby.

Mighty Clever then followed-up with another victory in the well-supported advanced intermediate class. Judge June Loughran awarded him 74.80%, this time ridden by Fionnuala O’Connor. Another Greenhills member was second; Emma Downey and Borahard Biscuit posted a score of 71.00%. Host club Killcarrick got on to the podium here with Genna Kavanagh and Royoco King scoring 70.80% on their first outing of the season.

Maire Quinlan-Pluck judged the 18 entries for the intermediate class and it was Ceara Banner from Abbeylands RC who came out on top with 73.12% on Soprano, a gelding by Nautilus. Sinead Ellis and Westcoast Cougar scored 69.58% in second for Killcarrick RC and Olwyn Alexander (Greenhills RC) was very close in third with 69.38% on Santero.

The advanced primary class provided a one-two for Rathfarnham RC. Karina Clarke posted a score of 72.29% on Sofias Girl, followed by Agnieszka Busz and Ekstreme on 70.62%. Third place went to the 17-year-old grey mare Firones Spear, ridden by Rachel O’Sullivan (Dunbyrne RC) on 69.17%.

Only three primary riders came forward for June Loughran to judge and the victor was Catherine O’Leary of Moyglare RC on Geoffrey. She posted 66.84% ahead of Jo Roche (Cill Dara RC) on Darla with 58.94% and Renee Hanley (Killcarrick RC) on Truly Madly Chadly with 56.31%.

Five riders competed in the walk trot test at the end of the day. The red rosette went to Linda O’Byrne on Lilliputs Dare To Dream. Joint-second were Aisling Hanlon on Summerbridge Patchy and Deidre O’Loughlin on Rathnagara Casino Royal, both from Cill Dara RC.