THE Connolly’s Red Mills AIRC West Leinster Dressage Qualifier took place last Sunday at Redhills Stud in Co Kildare, by kind permission of Karl and Jennie Heffernan. Judges Maura Quinlan Pluck and Liseanne Kearns were kept busy with 73 tests before them.

In the team competition, there were 14 teams hoping to win one of four qualifying places. Moyglare’s Catherine O’Leary, Maryam Yussuf, Mary Leavy and Gabriella Farries claimed first place. Greenhills Black (Fionnuala O’Connor, Olwyn Alexander, Noeleen O’Brien and Donal McKenna) took second. The Killcarrick purple team (Sinead Ellis, Patricia McGlynn, Genna Kavanagh and Tania Whittle) took third and Winterdown (Geraldine Monaghan, Aisling Delaney, Caoimhe Delaney and Eimear Delaney) took fourth.

In the individuals primary section, Jackie Warren from Corrib took first place (Rinville Coleen) and Ann Mannion (Celtic Queen) taking second for Ballyteague. In advanced primary, Laura Fitzsimons (Kilronan Duff) claimed the first prize for Ashbrook with Laura Byrne (LWS Quida) taking second for Ballyteague. The intermediate class returned the highest score of the day (80.24%), from Catherine O’Sullivan (Paintwork Lad) from Corrib with Donna Murray from Dalysgrove (Lady Temple) taking second.

In the advanced intermediate class, Helen Hayes from Mill Road, riding Moycarkey Man, took the red ribbon. Fionnuala O’Connor on Mighty Clever took the blue for Greenhills. The open class was won by Genna Kavanagh on Royoco King from Killcarrick with second going to Emma Downey riding Phidelmas Cloud from Greenhills. Eva Byrne from Calliaghstown riding Tirney Puissance was the sole competitor in the advanced open. The next dressage qualifier is on June 24th in the South West Region.