David Abbott

FIVE teams are through to the Connolly’s Red Mills Team Dressage Championship final in August after two qualifiers took place last Sunday.

Three teams qualified from the South West region, where 10 teams took part in the qualifier at Skevanish Equestrian Centre, Co Cork.

Kerry-based clubs took the top two places with the Kerry RC team of Mary Bradley (Bootilicious), Pat Sheehan (LVS Buzz Lightyear), Jacqueline Higgins (Marks Pride) and Caroline Songhurst Stiles (Carriglea Chieftain), claiming the spoils on a total of 416.53%. Killarney Riding Club was next best on 403.74% to secure a place at the final in second while Glengarriff took third on 403.73%.

Elsewhere, two teams will qualify from the West Leinster region after eight teams took part in their decider last Sunday at Red Hills Stud.

Greenhills made it a double success for the club, as earlier this month it won the team show jumping qualifier, adding the team dressage qualifier to their list of wins after the quartet of Fionnuala O’Connor (Mighty Clever), Helena Alexander (Chatsworth Lux), Lorna Keogh (KillmacZ) and Lianne O’ Shea (Bento Van De Noordheuvel) amassed a total of 219.33% to claim the spoils.

It was a very close affair, however, as second-placed Killcarrick Riding Club, finished on a total of 218.2% to secure the other remaining place at the championship final in August.