AMATEUR riders travelled north to Portmore Equestrian last Saturday in a bid to secure a coveted place at the 2019 Dublin Horse Show.

As always, this division was well supported with over 160 entries battling it out for the eight places on offer on the day. The competition was intense, with 24 riders going forward to contest the third round and of those, the perfect number of eight delivered clears.

Victory went to Alexandra Bailey and Callie LVS Z, when she kept all the poles in place in a time of 34.59 seconds, to secure her first ever ticket to the RDS. Speaking after the win, Bailey said: “I’m absolutely over the moon with the result. It was a challenging course and the hard work has paid off.

“Callie, who I bought form Lissava Stud as a three-year-old, is a super mare by Cobra and is out of the Diamond Lad-sired Ellie of Atlanta. She is now 11 and has been very consistent in her career. She is a full sister to LVS Wizard, who is jumping with Greg Broderick and was placed second in an international class at Balmoral show only recently.

“She has a super temperament, so much so that my two-year-old daughter Ruby also likes to have a sit on her! It was a great day and I’m really looking forward to competing at the RDS, I’ve never qualified before,” she added.

Familiar face

A familiar face in the amateur division in the RDS, having finished in the top six on more than one occasion, Sheikh Samir Mirdad took the runner-up spot. Riding the 14-year-old Andiamo-sired gelding Mirdads Fareeedat Alrahmaaan, they stopped the clock in a time of 35.86.

Accounting for third place was Katie Frazer, riding Keylogues Clover Lady, when she crossed the line fractions behind in a time of 36.20.

Frazer is also a seasoned competitor in the RDS, having secured her place in the final in 2017.

Little separated the next placing as another regular visitor to Dublin, Marie Hartley riding Scarthill Vendi, galloped home in a time of 36.43 for fourth. This combination is no stranger to this pressure, having finished fourth in the championship last year.

Karen Lynch and LCC Caseys Cruise also remained within the 37 second barrier when breaking the beam in 36.83 for fifth, ahead of Fiona Mullins riding Blaencwm Jester, who was less than a second behind in a time of 37.64 for sixth.

Seventh place was filled by Karen Broderick who was riding Earl Greys Last Cruise and clocked 38.59. Joanna Curran has had much to celebrate lately as her five-year-old gelding Wiedum won the five-year-old championship in Balmoral when ridden by Tom Hearne. The Tyrone rider added to this good run of results when taking eighth place with Intis, the last of the triple clears in 39.38.

Please note that these results are provisional and will be confirmed by Showjumping Ireland closer to the time of the Dublin Horse Show.