JUNIOR riders were well catered for at last weekend’s Dressage Ireland National Championships in Mullingar where, given the season she has enjoyed, it was no surprise to see Slieve Bloom Stud’s Sophia Doheny win the E.I.S.-sponsored FEI Junior championship on Batiqar.

Owned by the rider and her mother Louise, Batiqar, a tall, seven-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Obelisk, recorded a combined two-test score of 231.394 with his sole rival, the Rachel Carr-ridden Calliaghstown Silver Doolin, a traditionally bred 14-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare by Silver Banner, completing on 213.375.

Also in Junior company, Northern Region rider Katie Lowry claimed the KSB Elementary Category title on her mother Sian Phillips’s Connemara gelding Crosspoint Tobin (181.5), a 12-year-old grey by Templehill Jasper. Eight combinations contested the Howden Insurance Novice Category 2 championship where the honours went to Tralee’s Ella Brosnan riding Z (184.25) while the M&S Simply Dressage Category 1 title was won by Newcastle Lyons Pony Club member Abbey Ferris on her mother Mary’s multi-talented Connemara gelding How Ya Sammy (189.125), a seven-year-old bay son of Woodfield Sammy.

The entire Preliminary section was sponsored by Childéric Saddles and here, in the Junior Category 1 championship, Ferris and How Ya Sammy (172.75) had to settle for the reserve slot behind Co Wicklow’s Niamh Winter on Josephine Delahoyde’s eight-year-old 138cms piebald mare Marlton Rose (176.375).

The Category 2 winner was Co Wexford’s European pony championships team member Oscar O’Connor and his mother Susan’s ISH gelding Jumping Jack Flash (167.875). O’Connor also competes under Eventing Ireland rules with this nine-year-old Jack Of Diamonds chesnut on whom he won an EI100 (J) at Kilguilkey House in mid-August.