GIVEN the entry for last Saturday’s Eastern Region show at Marlton, it appears that most members of Dressage Ireland would appreciate a longer break from competitive action following the national championships, which were held two weeks earlier at Castle Irvine, Necarne.
However, there were riders keen to get their horses out and entered up although some of these then cried off on the day, no doubt put off by the wet weather. The show went on nevertheless, with the organising team coping with conditions to keep classes running on time.
Top of the class
Most overall winning scores were in the mid-60% range, but Maire Cullen topped the leaderboard on 70.38 in the day’s only Preliminary class (DI6) with Lismon Indie (Carrabawn Ginger - Dromore Prince, by Connacht Diamond), a 10-year-old grey Irish Sport Horse mare who is not currently registered with DI.
Only six of the 13 entries in that class appeared before Sarah Jane Doyle (List 5), but all five did in the Novice 24A, where she awarded her highest overall score (65.5) to Category 2 rider Nessa O’Sullivan for her test on the 18-year-old home-bred ISH mare Wexford Moondance (Fast Silver - Diamond Honey, by Duca Di Busted).
Doyle also judged the sole Trailblazers’ class to go ahead, the Preliminary DI4 and the Welcome To Dressage Intro A, but here there were uncontested wins for Maddalena Turolla on Cloonan Hannah (62.40) and Charlotte Bouman riding Hicksons Silver Lining (65.28).
Jean Halpenny (List 3), who was on duty at the Connolly’s Red Mills/AIRC national dressage championships in Mullingar Equestrian on Sunday, warmed up for that task at Marlton, where she awarded her overall highest score (67.5) in the five-runner Elementary 55.
Her winning combination were Fiona Huber with her 11-year-old ISH mare Ballinteskin De Reve (Hermes De Reve - Ballinteskin Cult, by Cult Hero), who doubled up with an uncontested win in the Elementary 53, where they scored 66.33.
Halpenny’s other winners included the aforementioned Nessa O’Sullivan on Wexford Moondance (65.55) in the Novice 39, where all three entries met their engagement, and Siofra Pratt with her 13-year-old ISH mare Ballarin My Grace (Kings Master - Seefinn Rosewood, by Nash Me), who scored 66% to beat her sole rival in the Medium 77.
Two combinations appeared before Halpenny in the FEI Pony Rider classes, Olivia Linnane with her mother Isobell’s 10-year-old dun Dutch Warmblood gelding Don Dimaro van het Gildeland, and Laura Guinan with her mother Sarah’s 21-year-old Connemara gelding Coolrahnee Joey (Roo Lad - Silver Wave, by Ferdia). Linnane won the Team test on 66.43, with Guinan claiming the honours in the Individual test on 65.81.
The Eastern Region is holding its league final at Marlton next Saturday, September 12th, when the judges will be Vida Tansey (List 1), Paula Geiger (List 3) and Alison Thorne (List 5), while the Northern Region’s summer finals are taking place today at Danescroft.
Dates for your diary
Dressage Ireland have been publicising two events taking place next month, which are open to all.
The first is the organisation’s annual Judges’ Gala scheduled for Saturday, October 10th, at Kildalton College. The theme this year is ‘Principles in practice - how to arrive at a mark’ presented by 5* Olympic judge Katrina Wuest.
The second is a Hallowe’en Masquerade Ball, ‘A magical black tie affair’ with ‘no tricks, just treats’ in the Westgrove Hotel, Clane on the day itself, Saturday, October 31st. Full details on both events can be found on DI’s social media.