IT was cold but sunny last Saturday at Sika Equestrian, where the South East Region of Dressage Ireland ran a limited entry show with just one non-restricted class being advertised for each grade.

Nevertheless, two riders completed doubles starting with SER Committee member/show secretary Amy Jo Peskens, who did so on board her six-year-old Aoife Doyle-bred mare KASH Zowie’s Stardust (Maplevalley Master Class - Zwota, by Ravel V).

The combination scored 72.14% in the Preliminary DI5A, which was judged by Ruth Daunt (List 4) and 72.17 in the Novice DI24A, judged by Vida Tansey (List 1). Despite withdrawals, there were 11 starters in the first of those classes and eight in the second.

The same two starters, Tara Hayes on Sandora (Spielberg - Silver Grouse, by Zagreb) and Lucy McCarthy riding Lloyd W, came before Tansey in the Prix St George and the Inter I. In both instances, Hayes fared the better on her mother Fiona’s 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare, scoring 75.31 (compared to 72.50) and 68.24 (66.62) respectively.

Two combinations contested the Tansey-judged Grand Prix, where Belinda Brereton claimed the honours on 65.54 with her 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Galaxy Moone (Negro - Cadoeska C, by Painted Black). Sorrell Klatzko scored 61.85 on her 10-year-old home-bred ISH gelding Gladiator.

Tansey assessed two horses but just the one rider in the Advanced Medium DI90, where Horse Sport Ireland Level 2 coach Rachel Dowley, a sport horse journalist with the Irish Horse World, achieved a score of 66.91 on board her eight-year-old KWPN mare GFL Nava (For Romance - Daimy, by Florencio).

Sallyann Langan, the sole starter in the Tansey-judged Medium DI67, scored 60.45 riding her 10-year-old ISH gelding Campaign Dancer (Campaign Swing - Prosprous, by Crosstown Dancer). Daunt judged the five-runner Elementary DI51, where she awarded her highest score (68.70) to Sonya McCormack riding Sosha Jakama, her five-year-old Oldenberg mare by Taurus.

In the two restricted Junior classes, the overall winners were Cael Shanahan with Josephine Delahoyde’s ISH gelding Marlton Glamour Man (68.39 in the Preliminary 5A), a five-year-old son of Glamourdale, and Abbey Ferris with her mother Mary’s Merrywell ISH mare Dignified Lady (68.50 in the Novice DI24A), an eight-year-old bay by Dignified van’t Zorvgliet.

The day’s action started with two Trailblazer classes, where Ruth Daunt’s winners were Laura Hayes on her father Barry’s 17-year-old skewbald gelding Mr Jolly Jumper (70.88 in the Under 10s’ class) and Felicity Jones riding her mother Tara’s 23-year-old bay mare Banner Seoidin (70 in the Under 12s).

Venue owner Zara Glennon Cully rode four young horses at this show, which was a qualifier for the Inter Regional Finals at Ballindenisk on Saturday, April 18th.

The South East Region will hold their next show on Sunday, May 31st at Barnadown.