A QUICK turnaround from hosting showing last Sunday saw Coole-Lane RC host their leg of the AIRC South East regional dressage league at Boley Equestrian. Over 60 horse and rider combinations made the trip to the Wexford venue in the hope of securing points and their place in the final in a few weeks’ time.

First up was the RCP1 class which was dominated by the Wexford riders. Winning the class was Anthony Villar (Ballycanew RC) and the ever reliable Kokopelli on 66.39%. Second was fellow club member Liz Carroll on Tullowclay Boy who shone in the early morning sunshine and bagged 65.28%. With only a percentage separating them, Aoife Crosby (Carne RC) and How You Keeping were keeping more than well when they scored 64.72% to take third place.

In the PCP2 class, the runaway rider was Isobelle Gould (Barrow Valley RC) and Foxy Furisto who danced their way down the centre line to a score of 70% and saw them take the red back to the Carlow club. Seabreeze Harry and Jude Bowles were downwind of Gould on this occasion, but some lovely footwork kept them top of the board and saw them take second place. Maura Gleeson (Ballycanew RC) and Shooting Silver Star shot into third place, while joint fourth position went to fellow club member John Murphy and his big grey gelding Larry, Wexford rider Stephanie Bryan (Horetown RC) and Hazelwood Levi and host club member Sally Duffy riding Jura Mist of Langsett.

Impressive

With the clouds rolling in, the RCP3 class kicked off and nothing short of 70% was going to be enough for the top three placings. Jean Power (Waterford RC) and Briska Lad made the long trip worthwhile and set the pace for her fellow competitors on a score of 73.26%. Carlow rider Valerie Crean (Barrow Valley RC) and her ever faithful Kildoon Trix scored an impressive 72.61% and the blue ribbon. Carne RC rider Isabelle Rouviere and Jasmine Van Ter Notelaere had an equally impressive 72.39, slotting them into third position while fourth went to Caoilfhionn Stoiri and Kildromin Mustaf for Barrow Valley RC. Roisin Digby (TT&D RC) and The Best of Friends were fifth in this highly competitive class while Kokopelli had a second trip down the centre line, this time with Sonya Sinanan Villar who came home with their second rosette of the day, this time sixth.

The rain couldn’t dampen Melanie Hammel (Carne RC) and Tayler Dandy who impressed the judge so much she awarded them the highest placed score of the day of 77.12% in the RCN class. Waterford rider Emma Stephenson (Kilotteran RC) and Dromad Moran Dancer couldn’t catch Hammel on this occasion but with a score of 67.12% it’ll be all to play for come the final.

Vickey Cloney (Carne RC) and Gentle Bouncer were also on 67.12%, however their collective score dropped them into third position. This didn’t dampen their spirits though as they were also first in the RCE class. Fourth position went outside the region to Evelyn Healion (Kilrainy RC) and Jersey Boy. Madeline Bradley (TT&D RC) and her grey superstar Moon Runner swapped their runners for dancing shoes and tapped their way into fifth place, while local rider Rose Deegan Byrne (Tinahely RC) made their short journey count by bringing home the purple and valuable points ahead of the final.

Good boy

The final class of the day was the RCM where local rider Denise O’Brien (Tinahely RC) and Tommy Be Good showed how much of a good boy he really is by demonstrating a masterclass in dressage to those still braving the bad weather.

The league next returns to Carlow club Barrow Valley who will host the last leg before the final.