AS the reigning title holder, Derg Masterpiece, is now too old for the small event horse championship at the RDS, she will not be among those at Scarteen next Wednesday bidding to qualify for Dublin where she was second in 2016 and unplaced on her first visit in 2015.

And, as Owen and Aideen Kirby’s home-bred eight-year-old Lancelot mare now has over 160 Showjumping Ireland points, she cannot contest the working hunter section at the show where last August she and Aideen topped the line-up at the end of the lightweight class for seven to 10-year-olds.

Not to worry – the Co Limerick partnership will still be in action at the RDS as, at Ravensdale Lodge last Saturday, they finished fourth of the eight who qualified at the Co Louth venue for the amateur show jumping championships at Dublin. There were 160 starters.

“It was under the advice of my daughters, that we targeted the amateur championships,” explained Dublin enthusiast Aideen. “Due to a hoof abscess, we missed the Warrington qualifier. Our season had been delayed getting going so we only had one show before Saturday.

“Thankfully, my mare loves competing and puts her heart and soul into anything I ask her to do. She is the only horse that I compete at the moment. It was a really lovely family day out, with my husband Owen and my two daughters acting as groom and advisors. Their support is invaluable to me.

“I often think of other breeders who, like me, used to travel to the RDS to see their stock compete. I feel so lucky and privileged that I now get to compete a foal we bred. I do the driving, plaiting, poop scooping and training which makes it even more enjoyable to reap the rewards. Hopefully we will have another memorable trip to Ballsbridge in August although it will be hard to top the dreams that came true in 2017.”