THE South Munster Region of Dressage Ireland held the first of its midweek summer shows last Thursday week at Skevanish Equestrian, where it doubled up as the fifth leg of the regional O’Brien’s Saddlery league.

Elizabeth Furney (List 6) judged five of the eight league classes, four of which were contested by just two combinations. In the Preliminary DI16, Clíona Ní Liatháin claimed the honours (67.40%) on board Glenabo (Youmzain - According To Grace, by Robin Des Pres).

In the non-league DI5A, where there were seven starters (all unregistered), Ní Liatháin and her unraced seven-year-old thoroughbred gelding scored 67.68, as did Niamh O’Carroll riding Pretty Unique. However, as she had the higher collective score (61 to 60.5), Ní Liatháin bagged the win.

There were seven starters also in the non-league DI6 in the short arena, where Stephen Lyons topped Furney’s overall leaderboard on 67.69 with the 19-year-old Irish Draught mare Drumbrade Hill (Drumhowan Gold - Cullenagh Hill, by Clover Hill). Second there on 67.31, Ruth Walsh and her 23-year-old grey gelding Candlefort King (Beauchamp King - Candlefort Lane, by Teaspoon), who is listed on Weatherbys Non-thoroughbred register, won the Intro league class on 68.57.

Furney judged all three Trailblazer league classes, where her winners were Rebecca Fleming and the 17-year-old part-bred Welsh mare Whiteleaze Secret Temptation (70.88 in the Mini class), Lily McLaughlin riding the 14-year-old mare Little Miss Sassie (68.65 Under 12s) and Jessica O’Mahony with the 19-year-old ISH gelding Garryndruig Churchill (69.62 Junior class).

Vida Tansey (List 1) judged the remaining league classes, assessing five combinations in the Elementary DI53, where her overall leaderboard was topped on 66% by Cecilia Foster riding her 10-year-old Connemara gelding Abbeyside Rory (Carracanada River - Pippy, by Castleside JJ). The sole starter in the non-league DI52 was Anna Dangerfield with her nine-year-old Warmblood gelding Bonito (68.47).

Emma O’Flynn scored 68.45 to win the two-runner Novice league class (DI39) on her 13-year-old black mare Diane. The only starter in the non-league Novice class (DI23 in the short arena) was Katie McKeon with the 12-year-old Connemara mare Anbally Silver Grey (70.16).

In both the league (66.21) and non-league (66.83) classes at Medium level, Lene Rose was the only starter with the 20-year-old ISH gelding Fernhill Nearly Darc (Shannondale Sarco St Ghyvan - Clover Savannah, by Clover Hill). Rosemary Gaffney recorded an uncontested win in the FEI Para Grade IV Grand Prix with her eight-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare Norabel (67.08).