THE first of five qualifiers for the two side saddle classes at the Gallagher Dublin Horse Show was held on Saturday at the Armagh County Agricultural Show in Gosford Park, where the judges were Lesley Jones (ride) and Patricia Hoey (conformation).

The ladies’ side saddle qualifier was won by Ballynahinch’s Rachel Moore Rooney, who was recently on modelling duty for the DHS, on the five-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare Drumlane Kate (Je t’Aime Flamenco - Drumlane Rose, by Cavaliere), who was bred by her owner, David Sloan, a long-term supporter of the rider.

The bay, who was making her side saddle debut on Saturday, finished fourth in her lightweight hunter class at Dublin last year. In May, she won the four and five-year-old ladies’ astride class at Balmoral, repeating her win of 2024 and again going reserve champion.

As she did here last June, Becky Rafter secured a qualifying ticket, but this time on Kieran Ryan’s five-year-old ISH gelding Cnoc Rua Osprey who, under the owner’s son Ivan, was reserve champion lightweight at Balmoral last month. Joanne Quirke qualified in third with Helen Cooke’s six-year-old ISH gelding Kiltealy Grey, who was fourth in this year’s Balmoral Classic.

Co Tipperary’s Stephanie Moore, who finished third in the Intermediate side saddle class at Dublin last August on Dynamite Replay, is set to contest the final again this season, but now on Katelyn O’Driscoll’s five-year-old Carravilla Enough Said (Chillout - Jimmys Wish, by Clover Brigade). Moore and the Anthony Sheridan-bred ISH gelding won the Balmoral Classic last month, following the grey’s debut win under side saddle at Kilbride.

The second ticket on offer went to a delighted Clara Cully who, having reached the age of 14, was able to ride in a qualifier for the first time. Her willing partner was her mother Buddy’s Connemara gelding PIO, a 14-year-old chesnut son of Celtic Moy Sailor, who Clara competed previously in show hunter and working hunter classes at Dublin.

Katie Maloney claimed the third ticket on board Alan McNulty’s six-year-old Irish Draught mare Hollyhock Island Queen, a grey daughter of Scrapman.