CAROLINE McQuillan continued her dominance of the advanced intermediate division at the Connolly’s Red Mills sponsored AIRC national dressage championships, where she retained the title for the third year in-a-row.

McQuillan, riding her 14-year-old bay gelding, Mr Brown, registered 73.54% and 81.72%, the highest score of the day, to claim the title.

Her combined tally of 155.26% gave her an unassailable lead over Benbulben’s Jane Gaffney (Somhairle Beartie Wooster) on 141.60% in second place.

McQuillan also won the non-qualification class on Foxtail Orchid while the Monaghan club was also in the ribbons in the advanced primary non-qualification class where Gay Keenan claimed the spoils on Cloncaw Smartie.

Greenhills Riding Club also had a successful outing in the individual classes, winning two of the six titles on offer.

Lorna Keogh led from start to finish in the open championship as the Sallins resident recorded an impressive 79.69% in her morning test and a strong afternoon performance from Killmac Z left the Greenhills rider on a winning total of 150.98%.

Michael Moore from Ashbrook took second place with Guaranteed Gold on a score of 147.47%.

Greenhills claimed their second title in the advanced primary championship where Leanne O’Shea on Bento Van De Noordheuvel finished on 149.92%, while South West’s Sarah O’Sullivan (Macallan) was second on 139.25%.

In the intermediate championship, last year’s runner up, Melanie Hammel, claimed the spoils after two notable tests from Taylor Slaney Cruise. The Carne rider, who previously won the title in 2013, recorded 74.66% in her opening test on her 11-year-old chesnut mare. Her 72.92% score in the afternoon sealed the win on a score of 147.58%.

Greenhills were denied a third title as Helen Alexander had to settle for second place on Chatsworth Lux on 140.64%.

Elaine Lynch won the primary championship on I Go Hugo.

Her tally of 149.30% ensured the red ribbon for the Thomastown and District rider after an impressive morning test on her six-year-old piebald gelding. Killarney’s Liobhan O’ Callaghan (Royal Crown) followed closely behind on 146.56% to claim second place.

Eva O’Kelly took the advanced open championship where the Brooke Lodge rider performed two consistent tests on Ballievey Lilly to record a total of 145.09%. Donegal Gaeltacht riders, Patricia Warren (Burinex) and Laura Schneider (Chloe Lass), were second and third on 127.48% and 127.31% respectively.

Elsewhere Mosstown’s Eilis McLoughlin claimed the spoils in the intermediate non-qualification class for the Longford based club on First Man Lara.