THE penultimate leg of the Kavanaghs of Newbridge Dressage League was hosted by Killcarrick Riding Club on Sunday, October 21st at CoilÓg Equestrian Centre, by kind permission of the Byrne family.

It was a damp start for the Primary and Advanced Primary riders but that didn’t stop those achieving good marks. There were joint winners of the Primary class – Jo Roche riding Something About Darla for Cill Dara RC was matched all the way by Sandra Cullen on Archie for Kilrainy RC, both achieving 68.50%. Sharon Conroy was third on Candy, also for Cill Dara RC with 64.75%.

The Advanced Primary riders were judged by Pat Creighton and her winner was Laura Byrne and the Irish Draught gelding Highfield Hunter from Greenhills RC, who scored an impressive 72.60%.

Emma-Jay Curran took the blue ribbon on the eight-year-old Mister Shelby with 70.20% for Rathangan RC, and another Rathangan member, Katie McParland, was third on a score of 67.00% with Crimson Dancer.

A large class of 18 contended the Intermediate grade and judge Maire Quinlan Pluck had Mary Wade and Lilly as her winners on a score of 70.89% for Dunbyrne RC.

Julieanne Reynolds and Latoon Dora were second for Greenhills RC with 68.57%. Megan Delaney claimed third spot on her second ride in the class Elphame with 68.57%.

Host club Killcarrick supplied the winner of the Advanced Intermediate class. Show organiser Trish McGlynn, who has only recently moved up to the grade, scored 70.32% on her home-bred mare Salalah Princess Khareef to take the red rosette and narrowly defeat Olywyn Alexander on Santero, from Greenhills, with 70.16%.

Third place went to Riverside RC member Ludmilla Pennefather and her skewbald gelding Ballinclea Golden Guy on 69.03%.

There was another close result in the Open class where Lorna Keogh and DBS Second Chance for Dunbyrne RC got home by a short-head from Sara Wood and Whacky Jack for Cill Dara. Their scores were 73.45% and 72.59%, respectively. Lynne Dempsey and the ex-racehorse Forest Way were third with 68.44% for Killcarrick RC.

Top score of the day and winner of the Sportsman class was Zohra Smyth from Moyglare RC. She piloted Walterstown Juan to an impressive 74.80%. Mary-Ann Casey and Benny put in a very respectable 72.20% for second place for Greenhills RC and they were followed by Clare Tuthill and Whisper for Moyglare RC who scored 68.00%.

Cill Dara RC member Deirdre O’Loughlin won the walk trot test with Robyn.

Her score of 71.96% was enough to take the red ribbon from Helen Alexander and Grangefort Heather who scored 70.44% for Greenhills. Trish Carey from Killcarrick RC and her little rescue mare IHRP Bella scored 61.30% to take the yellow ribbon.