DRESSAGE experience came to the fore in the junior classes at Grove, where former youth championship athletes topped the leaderboards in each section on very low scores. Maeve Deverell was the runaway victor in the Kiltinan Castle Stud EI110 (J) with Annaharvey Dunowen, ahead of their trip to Czechia to contest the FEI European Dressage Championships for Juniors later this month. They added nothing to their dressage score of 23.3 to finish almost seven marks ahead of Niamh Verkade and Duniro (30.2). Zara McCarthy also completed on 30.2 aboard Romans Special Envoy, but her 0.4 of a time penalty across country saw her settle for third.

The Equine Warehouse EI100 (J) went the way of Laragh Byrne, who represented Ireland twice at FEI Dressage European Championships on ponies, and LA Saurian Cavalier. This combination scored 21.5 in the first phase and maintained their lead, despite the addition of four faults in the show jumping. Having scored a double of wins at Ballindenisk recently, Niamh Verkade added a double of seconds here, when she again took the runner-up spot with Michael Ryan’s The Outlaw. Katie McCarville and Red Ace finished third on 29.3.

Gloria Queally scored a one-two in the Hoofprints Innovations EI100 (P) with her Connemara duo, after she was the only rider in the class to maintain a clean sheet in the jumping phases. Queally’s win came with Rolline O’Callaghan’s experienced 14-year-old Longwood Laura on a score of 30.5, while Rachel Brew’s Glenrock Lisa took the runner-up spot just a mark in arrears. Dublin Horse Show-bound Brooke Kenny and Cupid’s Magic Shadow finished third, having added four faults in the show jumping phase to their dressage score of 31.5.

Just five combinations started the EI90(P), where Laura Coonan and Melview Another Clover recorded their third win from four runs this year. They finished on their dressage score of 31.5, ahead of Orla Verkade and Carhu Melody, who also jumped double clear to complete on 33. India Cox and Kinamara Lady Destiny took an uncontested victory in the Kilcash Veterinary EI110(P), when they finished on a score of 50.7.