WITH 99 riders and 17 teams entered - all riding two tests each - last Sunday was a very long but successful day for Waterford Riding Club which hosted the 2022 AIRC Southeast Region dressage qualifiers, sponsored by Creative Training, Easy life cover and Viking Veterinary. The first rider was in the arena at 8am and the show schedule saw the last rider entering at 7.33pm. Despite the huge entries, Danville House Farm in Co Kilkenny was an oasis of calm, with two arenas running, two warm-up arenas in action, and six judges juggling the day.

Every rider rode the two tests they would hope to be riding for the National Championships with their combined scores counting for their individual entry, and their team entry, if they had been selected for a team to represent their club. The top three combinations would qualify from each grade, with one team from every four started qualifying for the National Championships to be held in Barnadown Equestrian, Wexford in August.

The RC P2 class got the day started, judged by Bridgette McCarthy and Lisenne Kearns. A total 36 riders were entered and suffice to say it was a hotly contested class with everyone vying for a top three spot. First place was taken by Carrigbeg Coco piloted by Jade Douglas from Thomastown and District Riding Club, finishing on a massive score of 158.61%. Nuenna Farm’s Mia Ryan aboard Stoneman Paddy’s Cavalier came second on 151.14% with Sandra Doody and Lisbarren Countess from Killcarrig Riding Club coming third on 148.36%.

A change of judge saw Patricia Lalor and Lynne Cassidy awarding the marks for the P3 class.

The host club’s own Fidelma Curran, with the golden boy Ballyadam Phillip took the lead early on, a full 6% clear of the pack after the first test. The duo finished up on 145.34, retaining their lead. Second place went to Treegrove’s Sinead Codd on IHWT Hero with 142.25 with Clare Butler and Mayflower Willow of Kilotteran taking the third spot on 141.16.

The final two grades of the day were judged by Sarah Jane Doyle and Susan Patterson. RC N kicked off just before 4pm. Taylor Slaney Cruise did the job for Melanie Hammel from Carne Riding Club with 147.16, Helen Alexander from Waterford RC with Grangefort Heather came in on a combined scored of 145.96 for second place and a combined score of 141.39 for the partnership of Vicky Cloney and Kashemire Le Beau finished off the top three.

The very patient P1 riders finished out the day. Donna O’Neill from Kilotteran riding Honest Robber came away with first place on 144.37, with second place going to Brynithon Monarch ridden by Michelle Crooks from Clonmel in second place on 137.08 and the third spot going to Jacqueline Kellett Bevan aboard Macroney Sue from Barrow Valley on 134.17.

The team event was won by Thomastown and District, second place went to the trio from Kilotteran Riding Club and third to Waterford Riding Club.