THE AIRC South East Spring Series was back in action once again for dressage, hosted by Horetown Riding Club in Ballyrue Equestrian. The sun was shining as competitors trotted up the centre line under the watchful eye of judge Lisanne Kearns.

Ian Grace and Marin were the winners of the first two classes of the day, RCN Open and RCE Open.

The next riders into the ring were in the Walk/Trot test. It was a home club clean sweep, with Paula Ronan on Calypso and Yvonne Lambert on Cheyenne taking first and second.

The RCP1 Graded class saw Jacqueline Kellet Bevan on Macroney Sue of Barrow Valley once again walking away with the red rosette; John O’Dwyer on My Oscar Wild took the blue rosette, with Patrick Deegan of Ballycanew on his first day out in 2026 on Last Masterpiece, walking away with third.

The RCP1 open class once again saw Jacqueline Kellet Bevan on Macroney Sue of Barrow Valley taking home another red rosette.

The RCP2 Graded class was next up the centre line. It was another home club win with series regular Sandra Dalton on Strattonstown Banjo, just ahead of Roisin Sutton on Broomhill Bailey from Carne. It was again the home club rounding out the podium with Ciara O’Morchoe on Nutella Tower and Yvonne Hoban from Thomastown & District on Aghalona Pop It in joint third.

The sun continued to shine as the competition entered the second half of the day. The RCP2 open class saw Sandra Dalton once again finishing top of the leaderboard with Strattonstown Banjo. Roisin Sutton and Broomhill Bailey once again walked away with the blue rosette. It was the home club once again shining in third place with Lucy Durack and Beenandunit.

Jennifer French and Leia for Ballycanew was in winning position in the Young Horse class, ahead of Natasha Mackey O’Donohue on Tomgarrow Robyn for Carne.

The largest class of the day was the RCP3 Graded class with Faith Jackson back to winning ways for Tinahely on Kilquinn Pride, placing just ahead of Barrow Valley’s Valerie Crean on Kildoon Trix. Harry Doran, also from Barrow Valley, on Jackson came home with the yellow rosette.

Melanie Hammel on Taylors Dandy for Carne just pipped Faith Jackson to the post for the red rosette in the RCP3 open class, with Harry Doran once again taking third position.

The final class of the day was the RCN class, with Melanie Hammel once again on the top of the podium. Ciara O’Neill for Coole Lane on Harry was second with Eva Brennan from Thomastown & District claiming the third spot on Golden Knight.