THERE was a varied representation of Dressage Ireland members at the British Dressage premier league show which ran from last Thursday week to Sunday at the Vale View Equestrian Centre in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire.

First up, wearing his BD List 1 judge’s hat, Mark Ruddock, the chairperson of DI, assessed those combinations competing in 17 classes over the first three days of the show.

On the Thursday, four DI-listed judges – Danielle Carey, Anne Glynn, Michael Moore and Bernie Webb – flew out of Dublin on a 5.55am flight for a day’s training at Vale View, The training was organised by the Judges Committee of DI and given by Jane Peberdy, a BD List 1 tutor.

The quartet arrived back in Dublin at 8pm to drive home, Danielle heading over to Galway which she had left before 2am.

Judging and training kept those mentioned above nice and dry unlike the three Marlton Stud riders who competed at Vale View to kickstart their 2026 season. Conditions were extremely challenging with stables and arenas under water despite the best efforts of those working at the Centre.

Josesphine Delahoyde did the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special with Barroso, Cael Shanahan did the Junior FEI classes with Santana and Niamh Winter competed in the Pony FEI classes with Ode To Shannon. Jo and Cael had a top six finish apiece while Niamh had a top 10 finish on her first start at a premier league show.