THE Fell family welcomed Dressage Ireland and the organisation’s National Championships back to Ballindenisk for the second year in a row in early September when the weather wasn’t always on side.
No one could fault the commitment of DI chair Mark Ruddock who, despite the wind and/or heavy rain, filled the role of call-up steward for two days. “I decided to lead by example,” said Ruddock. “I really feel that Dressage Ireland delivered a great championship for our members and, in my position as call-up steward, I was really happy to see ethical riding and happy horses.
“Our secretary, Claire Ewing, worked tirelessly in the run-up to the show. We had a great team of judges, stewards and volunteers who added to the smooth running of the event. The Fell family are a great team to work with and the arena surfaces are outstanding - the biblical rain didn’t make any difference to them.”
We can’t mention all winners here, but we do have to recognise the achievement of Kevin Acres, who was crowned National Champion for the second time in his career when topping the scores in Saturday’s Grand Prix on Ganesh (69.295%).
When the combination won at Mullingar Equestrian two years previously, Ganesh belonged to Greenogue’s Con McCarthy, but the tall, 14-year-old Jazz bay, who is out of Partouch (by TCN Partout), is now in the ownership of Category 1 rider Michelle Begley. “He’s still here at Greenogue, so didn’t have to leave his stable,” said Acres. “Michelle has only started competing at Preliminary level with Dressage Ireland and is learning a lot from Ganesh who is brilliant with her.”
Eleven squads contested the team competition, which was won by the South East Region’s Orange quartet of Anne Marie Dunphy (Pedigree OK), Joanne Logue (Little Lottie), Rita Naughton (Action’s Bond Girl W) and Amy-Jo Peskens (KASH Zowies Stardust).
Youth National Championships
Run by Dressage Ireland committee member Jane Whitaker, the dedicated DI Premier Performance Youth National Championships were held a week earlier at CoilÓg, where Whitaker, a List 1 judge, did the times, judged, scored and took photographs.
There were classes for Trailblazers, Junior riders from Preliminary to Advanced Medium level, for those competing in FEI classes for Ponies, Children on Horses, Juniors and Young Riders and an Under 25s’ Grand Prix. Also scheduled were Junior para equestrian classes and freestyle classes at all levels.
The Under 25 regional team event was won by Leinster, while South Munster Orange topped the scores in the Trailblazers’ team competition.
“The standard of riding is going in the right direction, which means the standard of training is going in the right direction,” commented Whitaker who, in the absence of usual helpers Caroline Moran (who was at the international event in Scone Palace) and Sam and Aisling Deverell (who were at the international event at Lisgarvan House), was assisted by Karen Gibney, Sarah Richardson, Fiona Hayes and Lorna O’Hare.
“The riders and their parents were all happy to muck in as scribes, call-up stewards, sheet collectors, etc. Everyone was very helpful and the whole weekend had a very positive vibe to it. Saturday evening’s Q&A session with judges Dane Rawlins and Vida Tansey was really good.”