THE second of the Western Region qualifiers for the AIRC National Dressage Championships took place in the stunning coastal venue of Gordon’s Bay Equestrian in Donegal last Sunday. Hosted by Letterkenny Riding Club, in conjunction with their annual Orla O’Reilly Memorial Derby Show, the qualifiers undoubtedly suffered as a result of soaring fuel costs limiting people’s options to consider taking the long haul to the championships at Barnadown. Most riders taking part were definitely present for the show itself rather than the opportunity to qualify, but that in no way detracted from the standard of riding or the enjoyment of competitors on the day. If anything the atmosphere was all the better for the lack of pressure to qualify.

A distinctly wet and windy Saturday had given way to a moderately less wet but much calmer Sunday, allowing competitors some peace to warm up before executing their tests. Judge Patricia Warren, ably assisted by scribe Shauna Gailey, put in a relatively quick day as just 23 combinations presented over the five classes, with four teams having been put forward for consideration.

Show secretary Suzanne Deeney Wylie had done a huge amount of arm-twisting on the run-up to the show and the competitors reaped dividends in the form of very generously sponsored prizes. The rules regarding the ratio of competitors to prizes were thrown to the north Atlantic wind and almost every competitor headed home with a prize or award from either the dressage or the derby competitions.

Main sponsors, Duggans Veterinary, were headlining the prizes while co-sponsors in the form of Covetrus, Interchem, Comfort Gut, Mulroy Veterinary and Kinnegar Brewing, ensured a wide variety of goodies for horses and humans alike. TopSpec sponsored the prize for the best turned out, which was deservedly won by Lauren McLaughlin of Inishowen.

Honouring Orla memory

The show is held annually in memory of previous club member Orla O’Reilly, very tragically killed in a road accident in 2015. Orla hailed from Kilnaleck in Co Cavan and was born and reared around horses, being of the O’Reilly family that holds the much respected Omard prefix. Orla’s life was dedicated to helping people, both through her career as a youth worker, and through her hobby of horse riding. She was always on hand to help out and was a huge supporter of the grassroots rider who was starting out. Orla would always be the first with words of encouragement and cheer when things weren’t going to plan.

In her memory, her family commissioned a lovely perpetual shield to be awarded to the person who it is felt best encapsulates Orla’s cheery and supportive spirit. This year the O’Reilly family joined her fiancé Jimmy McKinney at Gordon’s Bay to present the award to Inishowen’s Dawn McAllister who has embraced dressage on her two mounts.

The Donegal Gaeltacht's winning dressage team of Amy McGarvey, Liz Potter, Emily Schneider and John McDaid pictured at the western region AIRC National Dressage Championships Qualifier at Gordon's Bay Equestrian Centre, Donegal