THE pressure mounted for amateur riders on Saturday, with Tipperary Equestrian’s RDS Amateur Qualifier offering one last chance to make the cut.

More than 100 riders battled it out for the eight places on offer, and no fewer than 10 delivered triple clears.

Taking the golden ticket was AA rider Dean Cotton and Imperial Darco Diamond, who came home in a blistering time of 35.19 seconds. This will be the combination’s first time competing at the Dublin Horse Show. The winning 15-year-old mare is by Clarebawn Sunshine Diamond and is out of Cournasous Millie.

Transport problems didn’t put AA rider Luke Barton off as he took the runner-up spot with his own Roadstown Lark.

Not content with second, he also took sixth place with Bright when clocking 37.96. Barton, who had Roadstown Lark competing for the first time this year, delivered a clear in 35.87. Barton’s 14-year-old gelding is by Puissance and out of the French Buffet-sired dam All Weather. Bright, on the other hand, was in the ribbons within the past month, taking the win in the Amateur Championship in Mullingar and triumphing in The Farmers Journal qualifier at Mullingar on the first week of the International CSI2*.

Ashleigh Mooney (A) and her own Jelo accounted for third place, stopping the clock at 36.54. The 12-year-old mare is by Vingino and out of Petra Faith.

No strangers to the amateur winner’s enclosure, Lorraine Younge (AA) and Adieu Flight took fourth place when they galloped home in 37.06. This pairing has proved very successful again this year, and amongst their wins was the Welcome Tour in Millstreet.

Evelyn Farrell (A) and Little Miss Sunny finished fifth in 37.60. This combination has also been in the ribbons of late, taking second in The Farmers Journal qualifier in Killeagh the week before. The 10-year-old mare is by Quidam Junior and is out of the Flagmount King-sired Flagmount Morning Light.

Slotting into seventh place was Ava Vaughan (A) and Carrighshawn Condi, who kept everything standing in 38.29. The seven-year-old mare is by Condios and is out of the Chinook Eclipse-sired dam, Carrigshawn Divana. They were unlucky in the round at Galway, where they had one down in the last round.

Padraig Fives (A) followed closely behind with Mermus R Russel, going clear in 38.83 for eighth place. Bred by Adrian Shoer, the 10-year-old mare is by Mermus R and is out of the Russel-sired dam, Russels Girl.

Noel Elliott (AA) and Corgary Goodluck delivered the next clear in a time of 39.15 for ninth. The 10-year-old gelding was bred by Denis Noone, is by Goodluck VDL and out of the Captain Clover-sired dam, Corgary Captains Daughter.