KATY Roarke had an outstanding weekend at the Association of Irish Riding Clubs’ Festival with her nine-year-old gelding Kilbegley Lad.

Representing Mosstown Riding Club and hailing from Mount Temple, Moate, Co Westmeath, Katy won the Heavyweight and Maxi Cobs in the showing ring before winning the prestigious Carl Geisler Memorial Championship.

The talented Kilbegley Lad and Katy then ended up as joint winners of The Irish Field Dressage to Music (RCP1/RCP2/RCP3) class, along with Sandra Hammersley and Drop the Pilot for Clonshire Riding Club; the pair could not be divided on a winning total of 78.50%.

Reflecting on her success, Katy said: “I’m really delighted with my weekend at the Festival. Kilbegley Lad is unreal. He is such a versatile horse, we hunt with the Glasson Farmers, along with doing showing classes and dressage.

“Thomasina O’Reilly is my dressage coach. She has always been so impressed with his movement, balance and rhythm and he is such a pleasure to compete on.”

Jay flies high

Chelsea Jay (Moonlite Dalia) edged out fellow Kilcarrick Riding Club team member Amber Jones Anderson (Bryanmore Amber) with a superior collective total for the win in The Irish Field RC Preliminary 1 class, with both on equal scores of 67.71%.

Lisa O’Gorman from Mullaghmore Riding Club and the Colin Finn-bred eight-year-old KEC Bluejay Diamond mare Emmas Blue Ruby qualified for the ride-off as the winners of section two and proved to be the best of the six qualifiers to win The Irish Field RC Preliminary 2 class.

Judge Jean Halpenny opted for the Harlequin Du Carel mare Bray Summer Breeze as her winner in The Irish Field RC Elementary, with Kim McCann scoring an unbeatable 69.23% to clinch the red rosette for Brooke Lodge Riding Club.