THIS is a very busy weekend for young riders - and here we are just referring to the home scene - with the closing two days of the Showjumping Ireland national pony and children on horses championships in Mullingar, the Irish Pony Club/Connolly’s Red Mills eventing championships at Tattersalls Ireland and, of most interest to readers of this page, the Dressage Ireland/Premier Performance youth national championships in CoilÓg.

At the Co Kildare venue there are classes for Trailblazers, for Junior riders from Preliminary to Advanced Medium level, for those competing in FEI classes for Ponies, Children on Horses, Juniors and Young Riders and an Under 25s’ Grand Prix.

Also scheduled are Junior para equestrian classes and freestyle classes at all levels.

There are team competitions and special rosettes on offer for the highest-placed Connemara, Irish Draught and Traditional Irish Horse in each championship.

The action gets under way at 10am today and at 9am tomorrow. This evening, starting at 5pm, there will be a short ‘Ask the judges anything’ questions and answers session with finger food.

Registered riders

From Friday to Sunday next, August 29th to 31st, the Dressage Ireland national championships, which are open to all registered riders over the age of 16 on January 1st, are taking place at Ballindenisk where there will be championships for Grassroots riders at Preliminary and Novice level and at Preliminary level upwards for all others.

Seven freestyle classes have been advertised and Para championships at all five Grades. The Fell family’s Co Cork venue will also stage the final leg of three in this year’s DAFM Studbook Series for dressage.

Looking slightly further ahead, Dressage Ireland has announced the names of those riders selected for the British Dressage senior home nations’ competition taking place at Chard Equestrian in Somerset from Friday, September 5th to Sunday, September 7th.

In alphabetical order these are Aoife Brady, Georgia Cadogan, Emma Dair, Barbara Delahoyde, Mairead Dolan, Hannah Gordon, Ana Hughes, Caroline Lynch, Elaine Murphy, Katie Nolan, Lorna O’Hare and Collette Ward.