THE Irish Pony Club has upgraded its National Dressage Day to the National Dressage Championships this year with the re-titled fixture taking place at CoilÓg on Tuesday, March 31st, during the school Easter break.

While the full programme of classes has yet to be published, the IPC’s Dressage and Combined Training Committee this week announced that there will be a new all-island Elementary class for which combinations have to qualify through the seven Regions of Dressage Ireland.

The first and second-placed combinations from each venue will qualify once they have achieved a score of 61% or higher. Riders, who must be members of either the IPC or Area 17 of The Pony Club, may qualify through any Region.

Scheduled

The qualifiers are scheduled for Saturday, January 31st at Ballindenisk (South Munster Region), Sunday, February 1st in Clifden (Midland and Western), Friday, February 6th in Clonshire (North Munster), Saturday, February 7th at Marlton Stud (Eastern), Saturday, February 21st at Sika Equestrian (South East) plus Portmore (Northern) and Sunday, February 22nd in CoilÓg (Leinster).

Winter league

Last Sunday, the Meath Hunt Branch of the Irish Pony Club held the third and last qualifier of its inter-club show jumping winter league at the Emerald Equestrian Centre outside Kilcock, where the final will take place on Sunday, February 1st.