THREE Dressage Ireland-affiliated shows were held last weekend with the South Munster Region staging their first Summer Show on Saturday at Ballindenisk.

“The show attracted 170 entries which made it the biggest ever in the Region,” said secretary/organiser Ana Hughes who is chairman of South Munster. “We ran classes for everyone - you name it, we ran it! These included Pony Club and Riding Club classes, which were a big hit, and eventing tests for those heading to Lisgarvan or further afield.

“Each class with ‘special’ in the title was a sponsored class. We had many, many sponsors who were so supportive and kind, as without them this wouldn’t have been close to possible. First to third in each category in each class were awarded very generously while we had beautiful South Munster Summer Show rosettes which were presented to first to sixth in each class.

“Alongside all this, we ran the South Munster Regional Summer Championships which was for the highest-placed South Munster combination in their relevant class.

“We had five arenas running at once, which gave the show a real international vibe, while our announcer, Elaine Galvin, was on the ball introducing each rider as they went into the ring. As always the Fell family were the most amazing hosts, we are so grateful to have them in our region.

“This was our last show before the national championships next week (back in Ballindenisk) and what a show to finish the summer on; we will remember this day for a very long time! My committee were so enthusiastic and really jumped in to make this show the huge success that it was - it was a real team effort. I’m so proud of them and I’m so proud of the Region which always supports us.

“We have some regional test riding training this week (yesterday) for both youths and seniors as we all prepare for the nationals. We’ll then take a well-deserved break before we dive into the winter schedule.”

There were five judges on duty and here we will mention the combinations who received the quintet’s highest scores.

Topping the marks awarded by Vida Tansey (List 1) in the Graded classes was Sue Smallman who, riding her Dutch Warmblood gelding Gloriant H, a 14-year-old chesnut by Uphill, scored 68.82% in the Intermediate I where she was the only starter. Before the same judge, Anne Marie Dunphy also recorded a solo performance in the five-year-old class on her own KWPN-registered mare Pedigree OK (80%).

Katie McKeown brought up a double on her Connemara mare Galtee Honey, a five-year-old by Kinvara Boy, in the 16-runner Novice DI 24A where Joan Ahern awarded her a score of 74.17%. The List 2 judge was slightly more generous to Clodagh Walsh and the 16-year-old Hanoverian mare Chantal (74.38), the only starters in the FEI Para Grade I Grand Prix A Test.

Maire Hennessy (List 2) had three graded winners with scores of 70% plus. These were Claire Faulkner with her nine-year-old unraced thoroughbred gelding Maestro Merlin (70.21% in the Preliminary DI18); Karen Burke with her six-year-old Westphalian gelding Secret Desire HW (70.69 in the Novice DI21); and Angela Lyons with her 17-year-old Hanoverian gelding Woodcroft Santa Cruz (70.42 in the FEI Para Grade IV Grand Prix A).

Marian Slattery (List 3A) awarded what was easily her highest score of the day to Maeve Deverell on her mother Aisling’s 12-year-old dun ISH gelding Annaharvey Dunowen (75.63% in the four-runner FEI eventing 2* test) with Stephanie Fleming on board Whiteleaze Secret Temptation (75.59) comfortably winning the mini trailblazers judged by Elena Satalkina (List 4).