GENEROSITY and spirit were the order of the day at the third leg of the West Leinster Region Dressage League at Redhills Stud, Co Kildare last Saturday. Hosted by Cill Dara Riding Club, competitors were encouraged to don anything and everything yellow in remembrance of the late Tiggy Hancock with all profits generated by the club to be donated to Tiggy’s Trust.
The drizzle did not deter competitors, with 48 entries across eight classes, who responded to the yellow theme with gusto, from ribboned plaits to matching sets in sunshine hues.
Liz Power of Abbeylands RC rode down the centreline with ‘TT’ clipped into the hindquarters of her mount, Kilshanny Robert, and there was a particularly poignant contribution from Kilcarrick’s Theresa Cahill whose saddle pad was adorned each side with 15 yellow hearts made from a recycled rosette.
There could only be one winner to the Clippers Ireland-sponsored Best Mounted in Yellow prize which was won by the phenomenal effort of Rathangan RC’s Abbie Walker who home-dyed her breeches and shirt and decked the very patient If Ever A Rogue in a streaming yellow veil – which in the interest of safety was removed before entering the warm-up arena.
The best unmounted effort went to Fionnuala Lennon who received a bottle of bubbly for her very elegant ensemble. Centrepiece Rosettes donated beautiful Tiggy’s Trust pins which were distributed to attendees throughout the day.
While the charity was at the forefront of everyone’s minds, riders also showed in force with the hopes of impressing judges Jean Halpenny and Clare Fitzsimons and gaining those all-important league points.
Top honours in the Primary class of 68.48% went to Dunbyrne’s Lynn Cadogan on Shooting Star Joe for the second time in the league, while the Advanced Primary class was won by Chloe Kirwan from Abbeylands RC on her mount Royal Benson (70.90%).
Deirdre O’Loughlin (Cill Dara RC) and her four-year-old mare JC Grey continued their dominance of the Sportsman’s class winning with 73.36%. Cill Dara also took the spoils in the Intermediate class when Fionnuala Lennon and her mount Carrenrush Lord Spenser achieved 71.14% for what was just their second attempt between the white boards.
The ever competitive Advanced Intermediate class saw Terry Farrell and Othello XII for Calliaghstown come out on top with 72.11%, while Rathangan’s Abbie Walker topped off her day winning the very tightly contested Open class with 68.96% with If Ever A Rogue. The line-up was completed by Jenny Heffernan and De Keiser KN in the Advanced Open class.
Cill Dara Riding Club thanked Centrepiece Rosettes, Clippers Ireland, Furzvale Stables, John Harkin Metal Sculptures, and Yeomanstown Stud for generously sponsoring the day. Sincere thanks also to the judges judges and venue owners for their time, expertise and generosity and to Brian Geiß from Sagittarian Photography who was on hand to capture the memories.
Over €1,300 raised
Finally, a huge thanks to each and every person who supported the show and the bake sale which was kindly provisioned by members, and to those who helped created the wonderful atmosphere on the day. Cill Dara Riding Club is delighted to announce that the current total for donation to Tiggy’s Trust is €1,345.56 with some donations still trickling in.