AMATEUR riders were out in force last weekend, as 131 contested the second round of Dublin Horse Show qualifiers at Galway Equestrian. As in previous years, these qualifiers always go down to the wire and it was certainly the case here as it went to three rounds for the eight places that were available.

A total of 10 combinations delivered triple clears, all within 50 seconds, highlighting the intense competitiveness of these qualifiers.

Claiming the win was AA rider Niamh Quinn when she partnered the Cian Goggins-owned Clonguish Vivaro to a clear in 40.71. This 16-year-old mare is by Vivaldo Van Het Costersveild out of the Tanaos-sired Clonguish Gold. She was previously campaigned by Emma McEntee in 2023 and, before that, by Olive Clarke up to Grand Prix level.

Quinn was chased home by fellow AA rider Louise Craig who also kept the poles in place in a time of 40.82 with the Stetter mare Cherry Wine who, out of Roadstown Cruise (Cruising), was bred in Co Sligo by Michael Doherty.

AA rider and champion amateur jockey Jody Townend partnered her own eight-year-old JT Calover Junior (Quidam Junior x Ricardo Z), bred by Noel Harris, to a clear in 41.04 for third place. Townend is a busy race jockey for Willie Mullins and was glad to find time to compete at the qualifier after narrowly missing out first time.

Fergus Lawlor was best placed of the A category riders when delivering a clear with his own Parkcross Casper in 41.25 for eventual fourth. Roisin Donnelly (AA) was fractions behind with Seaforde Rebel in 41.45 for fifth place. A clear from Alex Butler (A) and John Joyce’s Poshes Legacy in 41.93 saw them take sixth place.

Little divided the next placing as Kate Houlihan (A) and her own Boss Z clocked 41.94 for seventh place. No stranger to RDS qualifiers, Lisa Doyle (AA) claimed the eighth and final place with Ballinaguilkey Dignified, when stopping the clock in 43.68.