CILL Dara Riding Club hosted the sixth and final leg of the Kavanaghs of Newbridge Spring dressage league last weekend at Redhills Stud in Co Kildare.

The final was the first riding club show to be held at family-owned Redhills Stud, where riders enjoyed use of the venue’s new second outdoor arena which housed the two dressage arenas. Owners Karl and Jenny Heffernan have also recently added a new car parking area and a covered lunging ring.

With the final leg of the league presenting the last opportunity for competitors to earn league points towards overall league results and prizes, over 60 horse and rider combinations competed on the day keen to finish the league on a high.

The morning began with the sportsmans and open classes which were sponsored by the Irish National Stud and Gardens (sportsmans) and Anglesea Lodge Equine Hospital (open).

The sportsmans class had six entries and this was won by Deidre O’Loughlin and HB Miss Kizzy from Phoenix RC. This pair, who have performed consistently throughout the league, won the class with 69.41%.

Second place went to Aisling Deverell and Annaharvey Drakensberg from Annaharvey RC on 67.94%. In the open class first place went to Lorna Keogh from Greenhills Riding Club who won the class on 76.3% with chesnut mare Killmac Z. Second place went to Jennie Curran and Landanos Rolling Clover from Killcarrick with 74.37%.

In the Troytown Grey Abbey advanced primary class, which was the largest of the day, 19 horse and rider combinations performed in front of the judge.

Top placings went to the two most consistent performers in the league as Linda O’Byrne and Irco Belle took first place for Killcarrick RC with 70% and Lianne O’Shea from Greenhills RC took second place on 69.12 with Bento Van De Noordheuvl. The Tottenham Timber primary class had seven entries and was won by Elodie Rautou and Garfield from Killcarrick RC. The pair scored 68.06% ahead of Papa Smurf and Jenny Brennan from Dunbyrne in second on 63.61.

In the Floods Feeds advanced intermediate class, Margo Monaghan and Samar from Calliaghstown RC won with an impressive score of 80.22%. Bridget McGing from host club Cill Dara took second place on board Tommy with 76.3. Olwyn Butler from Greenhills RC won the Dunmurry Springs Golf Club intermediate class on the highest score awarded of the day. She and her grey mare Santero set the bar winning with 85%. Fiona Doggett from Cill Dara RC was second in this class with Grainne III with 84.21.

Cill Dara Riding Club members thanked all of those who helped on the day as well as their generous sponsors for each class. The overall league results will be announced in the coming weeks by the West Leinster Regional Committee and prizes will be awarded at a special ceremony. The region’s members thanked Kevin Kavanagh from Kavanaghs of Newbridge for his generous sponsorship of their league.