THE Connolly’s Red Mills/AIRC national dressage championships were held last Sunday at the Mullingar Equestrian Centre, where the weather wasn’t as bad as the forecast but some competitors were caught in the few downpours.

“There was a very good atmosphere throughout the day and everything ran more or less to time thanks to the competitors, the judges and the volunteers all of whom turned up,” reported the AIRC’s general manager, Elaine Dunne.

Sixteen teams vied for honours in the team championship, where there was little between the winners East Cork (414.50%) and Killcarrick (414.02), who moved up a place from last year. Runners-up 12 months ago, Tara Hill slipped to third on 410.84.

The East Cork team comprised chef d’equipe Cecilia Foster with her 10-year-old Connemara gelding Abbeyside Rory (Carracanada River - Pippy, by Castleside JJ), chairperson Emma Mangan on her six-year-old Connemara mare Galtee Primrose (Kinvara Boy - Leam Silver Rose, by I Love You Melody), Laura Pope riding her 10-year-old Welsh gelding Southway Flying Comet, a palomino son of Rhencullen Vanilla Ice, and Margaret Manning with her 21-year-old piebald gelding Apachi.

East Cork, which disappeared from the Riding Club scene for some years before re-forming in 2022, is based in Midleton. Their team trainer is Shota Niikura.

Representing Killcarrick were Lucy Maughan (Vally View Sammy), club secretary Sandra Doody (Lisbarren Countess), Caroline O’Brien (Champagne Sparkles) and Emily Cunningham (Prescotts Belle).

Chris Carter attended the championships as chairman of the AIRC and as chair of Tara Hill, for which he rode on Sunday, along with secretary Jemma King, Carol Donnelly and Grace O’Brien.