THE North Munster Region of Dressage Ireland offered a wide variety of classes at Garranemore Equestrian last Saturday when, despite a high number of withdrawals, there was some very competitive action.

There were 14 starters in the Preliminary DI6 judged by Paula Geiger (List 3), who awarded her highest score (70.77%) to Allison Geary riding Beau, one of the 11 DI-unregistered horses in the class. Judith Wurmel, who recorded the second-highest score (70.58) on Dreamhill Doria (Ballineen It’s William - Dreamhill Donna, by Huntingfield Rebel), partnered the eight-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare to overall victory on 70.69 in the seven-runner Novice DI21.

That class was also judged by Geiger, who awarded her highest score of the day (73.53) in the three-runner DI Intro B to Saoirse Tobin riding the six-year-old ISH mare Keelnacally Delight Bui (Celtic Moy Sailor - Limbo Delight, by Dunelight). The same judge’s overall winner of the three-strong Elementary DI51 was Claire McCarthy with her 10-year-old thoroughbred mare Kitchen Duty (Vocalised - High Stool Lady, by Distant View).

Michael Moore (List 2A), who travelled down to Pallasgreen from north Dublin to judge the majority of the classes graded Novice and upwards, awarded his highest score of the day (70.29%) in the three-runner FEI Junior Individual class to Maeve Deverell riding her mother Aisling’s 13-year-old home-bred mare Annaharvey Firefly (Floriscount - Annaharvey Royale, by Cavalier Royale).

Deverell was second there on 68.97 with another home-bred, the 13-year-old ISH gelding Annaharvey Dunowen, a dun son of Radolin who had finished ahead of his stable-companion when they placed first (68.79) and second (68.64) in the Moore-judged four-runner Advanced Medium/FEI Junior Team Test.

Five combinations appeared before Moore in the Advanced Medium DI90, where the overall winner on 65.88 was Tracy Murphy with her 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Kennedy (Future - Wianannie, by Olivi). Riding her 12-year-old Lusitano gelding Jejum AR (Jacare II - Ruela, by Estoiro), Bernadette Newham won twice before Moore at Advanced level, scoring 61.71 in the two-runner DI100 and 64.38 in the FEI Young Riders Preliminary test, where she was the only starter.

In the Para section, there were uncontested wins at Grade II level for Ally Gabbett on the 13-year-old Connemara gelding Dunguaire Mick (Banks Timber - Rocky Girl, by Kylemore Rocky) and twice at Grade IV level for Rosemary Gaffney riding her eight-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare Norabel (Just Wimphof - White Spot, by Blue Hors Don Schufro).

On 66.67, Kate Kerr Horan claimed the honours in the Grade III FEI Grand Prix A with the 11-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding Lykkebo’s Don Akino (Blue Hors Don Olymbrio - My Lady AF Hvarre, by Michellino).

The North Munster Region returns to Garranemore Equestrian for their next show on Saturday, March 28th, when there are two other Dressage Ireland-affiliated shows that day and one on Sunday, March 29th. There are no DI shows scheduled for this weekend.