Angela Flynn

THE first leg of the 2015 Leinster Dressage winter league had an impressive attendance, with 76 tests ridden at the north county Dublin venue of Killossery Lodge Stud. Scoring an impressive 78.45%, Jenny Doran and her homebred Horseplay Diamond Matrix took first place in the category 1 preliminary test. The same pair claimed second in the P18 test on a score of 67.71%, behind winner Katie Nolan on Tullibards Shakira who scored 68.13%.

It was a successful day for Meath-based event rider Nolan, who also won the novice N26 test on a score of 72.59% on Belle Ame and was second in the same class on Tullibards Shakira scoring 70.34%. Nolan was also second in the BD23 test, scoring 66.48% with Belle Ame just behind Leinster committee member Isobelle Keyes and Foxfields Ivan (67.78%).

Kevin McGuinness was victorious in both elementary classes with Coppermine George scoring 68.00% and 64.31% respectively while the category 2 section of the elementary BD45 class was won by Leinster committee member Marguerite McSweeney riding Flagrati.

Maggy Williams and Homegrown Asterix won the medium class BD69, scoring 68.63% sharing first place with pony rider Sofie Walshe in the BD61 test on a score of 64.82. Former national champion Kate Dwyer was the sole entry in the Prix St George riding Snowdon Faberge. Judged by Donie McNamara, Dwyer scored a creditable 67.76% on the horse previously campaigned by her mother Maureen.

The unregistered preliminary class was well supported and it was Emily Nelson and Penny Dapples (72.24%) who took the win under the watchful eye of judge Laura Glynn. The younger Leinster Dressage supporters also started off 2015 in fine style. Laragh Byrne and Flossy were first in the Dressage Demons A class while Lucy Hogan and Lough Conn Laura won the Dressage Demons B class with a fantastic score of 73.00% and Lucy Zieg took second with Montys Place (64.00%).

Coilóg EC hosts the next Leinster Dressage show, February 7th. Dressage returns to Killossery February 22nd.