Diary dates

THERE’s just one Dressage Ireland-affiliated show taking place this weekend (the Northern Region’s summer finals at The Meadows) but 12 DI members, split into four teams, are competing in the British Dressage Senior Home Nations championships at Chard Equestrian in Somerset.

Three members of the South and West Region of British Dressage are helping to form four-rider squads in three instances, but the all-Irish Team Emerald comprises Elaine Murphy (Medium with Q T An Tanaiste), Ana Hughes (Elementary on Sligo Dark Knight or Ballycahane Billy), Emma Dair (Novice on Castle Ellis Esmeralda) and Caroline Lynch (Preliminary with Hio Easter Rose).

Joined forces

Competing at Advanced Medium level, S&W’s Kathryn Little has been named on Team Liffey along with Hannah Gordon (Elementary with DS Ballagh Bouncer), Lorna O’Hare (Medium on DBS Second Chance) and Katie Nolan Mulvihill (Preliminary with Billy Romeo). On Team Shamrock, S&W’s Clair Reed (Advanced Medium) has joined forces with Georgia Cadogan (Elementary with Stars Of Jupiter), Collette Ward (Medium with Jazz XI) and Aoife Brady Dolan (Preliminary on Linkenholt). Team Shannon is made up of S&W’s Nicole Jahanshahi (Medium), Barbara Delahoyde (Advanced Medium with Marlton Scout), Ana Hughes (Elementary on Sligo Dark Knight or Ballycahane Billy) and Mairead Dolan (Preliminary with Belperhill Aint She Sweet).

Caroline Moran, who was one of the trainers who accompanied Ireland’s Tiggy’s Trust squad to Scone Palace last month, has travelled over as chef d’equipe with the team’s trainer for the weekend being Fiona Hayes. Yesterday was dedicated to warm-up classes with the competitive action getting underway this morning.

Looking ahead

On Monday, Horse Sport Ireland published the dates and venues for the 2025 DAFM Autumn Development Series for dressage, eventing and show jumping, which is delivered by HSI and funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine under National Breeding Services.

The eventing and show jumping action gets underway next Saturday at The Meadows and the Banner EC respectively with the first of three legs in the dressage series taking place on Saturday, October 4th in Millstreet. The other two dates and venues are Sunday, October 12th at Danescroft and Saturday, October 18th at Marlton.