MANY congratulations to Michael Moore, who upgraded to List 1 with Dressage Ireland late last week.

Following an hour’s delay to his flight leaving Dublin on Friday morning, Moore arrived at the Chart Stables international and premier league dressage show at Hickstead in time to watch some of the Premier League FEI Grand Prix class before he sat his exam, judging eight tests. He flew back to Ireland at 11.30pm.

Moore reckons he has been 40 years officiating at DI shows, slowly moving up through the judging ranks, so he was very surprised - and naturally delighted - when he got a ‘phone call at 9.30am last Saturday, telling him that he had passed.

A dog groomer by profession, who is based in North Dublin (michaelsdoggrooming.com), Moore was motivated to start judging by the late Jacki Doherty and has since been encouraged by the support and advice of Vida Tansey plus Britain’s Jane Peberdy and Richard Baldwin.