AS they missed out on a group shot following their win at the Connolly’s Red Mills/AIRC national dressage championships in Mullingar the previous Sunday, all four members of the successful East Cork team met up last Friday.

Team member Cecilia Foster hosted the gathering at her livery yard, Quirkes Farm Stables on the outskirts of Carrigtwohill, where she, Emma Mangan, Laura Pope and Margaret Manning were joined by team trainer Shota Niikura and club secretary Barbara Dundon.

At Mullingar, the quartet recorded their best result in the RCE championship where, on a combined score of 137.42%, Foster claimed the title on her 10-year-old Connemara gelding Abbeyside Rory (Carracanada River - Pippy, by Castleside JJ), ahead of Killcarrick’s Myriam Bunter and her thoroughbred gelding Star Of Rubykan (135.47).

Foster, who joined East Cork two years ago, briefly did some affiliated eventing and show jumping with ‘Fionn’, who she purchased as an unbroken three-year-old. However, back in 2023, she decided to concentrate on dressage and, on joining Dressage Ireland the following year, she won that season’s Preliminary Category 1 championship on the Tom and Eddie Bourke-bred grey, who now has 130 DI points to his credit.

Two of the team contested the RCP2 championship, where they finished second and fourth behind Killcarrick’s Caroline O’Brien on Champagne Sparkles (139.94%).

Emma Mangan, who works full-time in banking, was the higher placed of the pair (138.69) on the six-year-old Connemara mare Galtee Primrose (Kinvara Boy - Leam Silver Rose, by I Love You Melody), who was purchased directly from her Co Tipperary breeders, Mick and Chris Hennessy.

Mangan, who joined the club three years ago, first qualified for the championship on another Connemara, the nine-year-old Glentrague Melody. However, when her daughter Jaime took over the ride on that I Love You Melody gelding for Pony Club activities, she had to qualify again on Galtee Primrose and did so with the support of husband Alan, who runs their small yard, and the encouragement of fellow East Cork members and her coaches.

“Primrose is a very kind, well-behaved 148cm Grade 1 Connemara mare,” commented Mangan of the grey, who she competed lightly under Dressage Ireland rules last year. “She grew in confidence and power as the competition progressed at the championships, which was particularly evident in her second test when she produced an outstanding score to finish joint first with Champagne Sparkles.

“Last year, she and Jaime were placed in the DI youth national championships at CoilÓg and she is proving to be a lovely all-rounder. She has recently competed in 90cm Pony Club one-day events and is gradually building her confidence over bigger tracks.” Emma and Galtee Primrose are among the entries for the RC80 championship at the AIRC national eventing championships in Killossery Lodge Stud tomorrow.

Laura Pope, who joined East Cork in 2024, finished fourth (138.39) on her 10-year-old Welsh Section D gelding Southway Flying Comet (Rhencullen Vanilla Ice - Greenwing Shannons Rose, by Trevallion Hooch), who was crowned pure-bred supreme champion at the Welsh Pony and Cob Society of Ireland show in early May.

Pope, who has worked in the racing and transport industry for most of her life, purchased Southway Flying Comet (aka Jack) as a three-year-old and has produced him herself on the showing and working hunter circuits. In addition to dressage, she also show jumps and events the palomino gelding under Riding Club rules, partnering him to victory in the South West Region’s RC80 one-day event final, and league, at Skevanish on Sunday.

Next up is Margaret Manning, who contested the RCP3 championship on her 21-year-old piebald gelding Apachi, who she purchased when he was seven.

A retired nurse, Manning joined East Cork when it was reformed in 2022 and has also competed with Trec Ireland and Dressage Ireland. She has attended BHS summer camps and enjoys hacking with Apachi, who she used to jump until breaking her hip two years ago.