RAHEEN Na Gun in Kilkenny has been host for the past seven weeks to the ever popular Dressage and Combined Training League.

This year numbers have increased substantially across the board and this is testament the hard work of the small team that run the shows and the fabulous competitors that attend according to proprietor Ger O’Brien.

“We have such a vast range of competitors and riders, from the lead rein riders right up to the two-star eventers which is fantastic. We have also been extremely fortunate with our super sponsors TRI Equestrian, TRM, Gain Feeds and Horserail Ireland who have been very generous to ensure that every single competitor at this final left with a prize and a rosette,” he said.

Originally the brainchild of Mary Carter and Sarah Lang around eight years ago, the classes and competitions have been developed over the years to accommodate everyone and some riders have gone on the represent Ireland including Luke Coen, Maresa Ronan, Charlotte Teehan, Sophie Foyle which makes all the team in Raheen Na Gun very proud.

The TRM/TRI Equestrian-sponsored dressage classes were well supported and the lead rein class was won by Ella Cooke on IWHT Kitty 76.50%. The First Ridden was a strong class throughout, and it was Imogen Lawless Greene who prevailed on the day riding Margaret Greenes Golden Grove Hermoine scoring 75.29% to scoop the honours from Marie Claire Van Houts Montalbano, a seven-year-old 17hh Fresian, ridden by her daughter Tanya Kent, on 74.12%. Third place went to Elizabeth Cooke on IWHT Kitty (72.74%) and fourth was Patrycja Wroblewska with Sportsfield Benson (71.18%).

BE90-95 was always competitive and was divided into two sections. Section A was won by Joanna Lewis on Get The Picture, an unraced TB gelding by Piccolo out of Tryptonic mare scoring a whopping 80.12% to scoop the overall prize. Second place went to Charlotte Hatton and Another Yogi 76.5% (best turned out dressage rider) and Hannah Kelly and Dipsey Lightening in third (74%).

The winner in section B was Tina Codd, on Caggy, who took the honours on 72% with her daughter Sinead Codd and Dancer (62.5%) second. Third went to Naoimi Keating and AKA Da Fonz (60.5%).

The DIN23 class was a very competitive class with Charlotte Hatton and Seamore Flashdance on 70.65% prevailing over Caroline O’Neill and Miss Double Dutch (68.71%), and third went to Marie Louise Nolan and June Flight.

Section B was also tight at the top, and was won by Joanna Lewis again on her second mount, Ballybough Bobati, on 69.68% from Ellen Kelly and Corabbey Lily Anne (69.35%), Glenn Cullen and Lux Smooth slotted into third on 64.52%.

Aniko Loricz and Cordelia won section A of the DIE50 class scoring 61.38% and Joanna Lewis took Section B with Ballybough Bobati on 69.68%,

Marie Claire Van Hout took the reins on Montalbano for the M72 class and scooped the prize with a lovely test of 73.94% showing the gelding off in fine style following on from his placing with daughter Tanya earlier.

Megan Telford Kelly and Augbeg Dunboy have been consistent throughout the FEI one-star class in the league, and scored a super 75.45% from second-placed newcomer Lilias McClean and TBS Ferdinand (62.73%).

Fraser Duffy and Black Padster took the FEI two-star with superb ringcraft to score 76.25%.

RESOUNDING SUCCESS

The Combined Training has been a resounding success with riders progressing upwards through the classes each week.

In the Lead Rein class, the parents needed to be fit taking on the dressage and jumping phases! Megan O’Neill and Lapstone Salvita at her first ever league scooped the prize and a clear jumping to win the class on her dressage score of 20. Second place went to Andy Kennedy and My Starlight on 21 who also received an award for the best turned out mini rider, third was Lennon Moloney and Tabita Mini Mix (23.5) and fourth was Aoife Brennan and Hemsbrook Pastiche (27.5).

The First ridden class was won by Ella Connolly on Cammanche on a total of 37.53.

In the 40cm class, Tobyn Lawless Greene took the honours on Little Charlie, a pony he has broken himself, and was only at his fourth show, jumping clear and completing on a 22.37 dressage score, from second-placed Mia Perry on Marble 23.33 also clear jumping. Third were Chloe Doyle and Cherry Berry (26.1) and fourth place went to Lucy Lennon on Bailey Breeze (30.1).

Evie Kennedy scooped the 50cm class aboard My Starlight, from Michelle Crooks on Monarch and then Evie also won the 60cm Section A class on Casper the Ghost, making it a double. In second, with a higher collective mark in the dressage in the 60cm class, was Gilby Monaghan on Saltre Wild Orchid, from Emily Marnane and Thierry Henry in third, followed home by Isabelle Seale and Strawberry Romeo.

Section B was won by Eve Doyle and Tony the Pony, with Orla Duggan’s Muskerry Applejack taking second.

LARGE ENTRY

Horserail Ireland kindly sponsored the 70cm and upwards classes which proved one of the league’s largest every single week with divides as well for the final day’s competitions.

Section A was won by Coltstown Diamond ridden by Sadhbh O’Connor completing on her dressage score of 29, second went to the another consistent team of Ava O’Dwyer and Sergio and third place was taken by local rider Anne McGrath on Managh Heather. In section B, Mairead Duggan took the winning accolade on board Shangan Mossy, with the consistent pony Cherry Berry and his other rider Lucy Doyle slotting into second and third went to a very pleased Patricia Commins and her partner Mr Benson.

The 80cm class was again a very competitive class from the start of the league and holds host to two winners from very different backgrounds.

The overall winner in Section A was a horse well known to the show ring in both astride and side saddle classes and an RDS winner, normally paired with Helena Hennessy, Cloneyhea Clancy. This time he was ably ridden by Helena’s daughter Aoibhinn Ruane who started off at the 60cm level and then worked her way up to this class. Surprisingly this nine-year-old gelding only started to jump seven weeks ago. They completed on a stunning dressage of 23.5 and a clear jumping round.

Second place went to Jume McGrath’s super little four-year-old Thullanoone Paddy (24.5), and third place was taken by Pauline Dahill’s four-year-old Carnakilty Little Ross (25).

Section Bs winner was former racehorse Moon Tycoon, paired with Pauline Dahill. The owner, breeder and sponsor Michael Moloney (Horserail Ireland) was on hand to witness his now seven-year-old scoop the honours. After running in a bumper and point-to-points, he was spotted by Michael’s wife Val and purchased back. With his floating movement and scopey jump, his career may lie in the eventing field.

Second place went to Tiggy hancock aboard JoJo, while third went to the consistent pairing of Alannah Tobin and Carnagh Thunder.

Esta Roche and Vermont Bobbys Girl took the 80cm Section C honours.

In the 90cm Section A class, Megan Telford Kelly found herself once again in the winner’s enclosure aboard her very nice four-year-old General Trend (Future Trend). Again a big horse that has seen improvement weach week, the team completed on a 25.5 dressage and clear jumping ahead of Ellen Kelly and Corabbey Lily Anne only one penalty separating them (26.5). Third went to Tiggy Hancock this time on Doc.

Section B was won by David Raeburn on Garryard Mayfair Lady ahead of Gillian Martin Smith aboard Mullaboden.

Section A accolade went to Anna Walsh as she scooped the 1m class riding My Kilrush Lad, being the only clear round completing on 22, ahead of Hazel Barden and Kilnaspic Lily (25.5) and Alison Holden and her promising young horse Lates Eddie (27.5).

Section B went to Lilias McClean on TBS Ferdinand.

Tiggy Hancock took to the FEI long arena for the 1.10m class riding her own Schnapps with a super dressage of 26.81 and a clear jumping, pipping Lee Maher and Atlantic Dreamer to the winning ribbons.

Laura Kelly and her ever consistent partner Marley posted clear rounds every week and this was no exception in the finals taking the BE115 class and the winner’s ribbons to finish of her season in style.

NEW LEAGUE

Raheen Na Gun thanked loyal sponsors including Carol Gee of Fernhill Sport Horses, judges Larry Flanagan, Cindy Hutchinson, Janie Scala, Gemma Ferrer, Faith Ponsonby, Sasha Reardon, Mary Carter, Linda Dempsey, Jenny Byrne and all the ground team for their hard work as well as Phoebe Bright for her dressage scoring system (www.dressagecalculator.com).

Raheen na Gun’s next league is scheduled to start on January 27th 2019 for another seven weeks which will take riders right up to the start of the eventing season. The NIF Festival Qualifiers are also on January 26th, February 23rd and March 9th next.