COMPETING at her first Association of Irish Riding Clubs Festival, an emotional Faith Jackson said she was “delighted and overwhelmed” with her successful debut. Faith and her six-year-old Grange Bouncer gelding Kilquinn Pride scored 72.29% to win The Irish Field preliminary 2 class.

Reflecting on her performance, the Kilteagan, Co Wicklow native said: “It has been an amazing weekend. I never expected to do so well. I have been a member of Tinahealy Riding Club for eight years and am trained by Pam Walshe. I’m so fortunate to have an all-rounder in Kilquinn Pride, winning in both the dressage and section one of the small hunter showing and reserve champion along with third place in the equitation showing here in Mullingar.”

Sisters win pairs

The 2025 AIRC festival would prove to be one to remember for twin sisters Ellen and Rebecca Matthews from Slane, Co Meath. Last year Rebecca (Benvarden Keystone) won the preliminary 2 class for Castle Hill Riding Club and this time around she teamed up on the same horse with sister Ellen (Lough Derg Ziva) to win The Irish Field pairs’ class on 71.25%.

Hannah Martin and her 11-year-old grey gelding Prince Darcy went close to achieving a dressage and showing double for the locally-based Mullingar club in 2024.

This year they retained the novice showing championship Frank Mangan Memorial Trophy, but crucially went one place better in The Irish Field preliminary 1 class to win on a score of 70.43%.

They say that age is just a number. The 25-year-old chesnut lightweight cob Woodland Badger proved the point scoring 68.89% with Castle Hill Riding Club’s Sarah Cassidy to win The Irish Field preliminary 3 class to add to their fifth place in the 21 and over showing veteran horse class.

Mairead Dolan and the eight-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare Belperhill Aint She Sweet won The Irish Field elementary class on a score of 73.75% for Ashbrook Riding Club and the same pairing placed third in section two of the mares’ showing class.