DRESSAGE Ireland’s national championships were one of the many events which failed to go ahead last year because of Covid-19 but are back on track and scheduled for next Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Barnadown, Co Wexford.

Heike Holstein, who has been crowned National Champion at this fixture 13 times, will not be extending her record this year nor have entries been received from any other winners of the title since 2012. Laragh O’Grady, who was National Champion for the third time in 2011 under her maiden name Hamilton and on board her Irish Sport Horse mare Claggan Roxy Music (by Rakish Paddy), is competing but only at Prix St George level with the Jaguar Mail gelding Mullentine Emerald Wolfe Tone.

In 2010, the title was won by Sarah Mellor on Fahrenheit and that Enfield-based Australian native bids to bridge an 11-year-gap as she is one of five riders entered in Saturday’s Grand Prix, this time with the 11-year-old Oldenburg mare Let’s Dance (by Donnerhall).

A total of 298 horses or ponies will be ridden in approximately 650 tests in four arenas over the three days. Seven judges are coming in from Britain, including Jo Graham who will be taking training for List 1 and List 2 judges, while Dane Rawlins will not only be judging but has also entered the 12-year-old Westphalian gelding Espoire in Saturday’s Grand Prix and Sunday’s Grand Prix Kür. In both, he will face Carolyn Mellor and Sorrell Klatzko who are back from competing in Europe on VSH Gouverneur M and Turbo respectively.

Childeric Saddles, who many will know through individual riders’ testimonies and through their sponsorship of the Stepping Stones to Success eventing league at Wexford Equestrian, have come on board as sponsors of the Big Tour while the large number of class sponsors include the seven regions of Dressage Ireland. Sandra Blake Farrell is supporting the Grand Prix Kür with a perpetual trophy in memory of her deceased Grand Prix horse, and twice National Grand Prix Kür Champion, St Emilion.

The Medium classes are being sponsored by Barbara Delahoyde through her DSE tack shop, which will be on-site over the three days. Her daughter Josephine rides their 17-year-old Holstein gelding Lets Go 110 in the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Kür while the five-year-old piebald gelding they have adopted from My Lovely Horse Rescue, MLHR Theo, is set to make his National Championships debut in the Trailerblazers’ Under 12 Preliminary class on Sunday. He will be ridden by Emma Bank.

The Trailblazers’ classes are being sponsored by Collette Ward Interiors, the Aughrim-based company of the South East Region member of the same name. Ward hasn’t too far to travel to Barnadown for the National Championships where she will be competing on her Andalusian gelding Jazz XI in the Category 3 Preliminary championship and the five-year-old young horse championship.

Treo Eile, the organisation which assists in the rehoming and retraining of ex-racehorses and promotes their exploits in their second careers, is also listed among the weekend’s sponsors. It sponsored the leading thoroughbreds at all levels at Eventing Ireland’s National Championships in Lisgarvan last weekend and here is offering €200 to the connections of the leading thoroughbreds at Preliminary, Novice and Elementary level.

The Hession family’s Beezies Stud in Co Sligo is sponsoring rosettes for the highest-placed traditionally bred Irish horse in each class and a prize for the highest-placed traditionally bred Irish horse over the three days. Louise Doheny of Slieve Bloom Stud is offering a free covering to one of the 14 stallions standing at the Co Laois stud to the winners of the young horse classes.

The first class for those competing at Preliminary Category 2 level upwards – including the increasing number of classes dedicated to Junior riders – takes place on Friday with the second being performed on Saturday when there will also be a large Intermediaire I class and the Grand Prix. The day will conclude with the main prize-giving ceremony and a barbeque

As there were 43 entries in the Category 1 Preliminary class, they will have their first test on Saturday and the second on Sunday when the stand-alone Freestyle classes will be staged, including the first at Preliminary level, and the Trailblazer classes.