Five Dressage Ireland judges upgraded

IT was announced this week that five Dressage Ireland judges have been upgraded following examinations held during the Premier League Show at Hickstead last month.

Joanne Jarden, who is a member of the Ground Jury for both the CCI4*-L and the CCIYH2*-S at Millstreet international Horse Trials this weekend, moves up to List 1 while Bernie Foley, Michael Moore and Faith Ponsonby move up to List 2a; Ponsonby is a member of the Ground Jury for CCI1*-Intro Ground Jury at Millstreet. The number of List 2 judges has increased by one following the upgrading of Jane Whitaker.

Dressage Ireland’s Judges’ Committee thanked Irish international rider Dane Rawlins (another on Ground Jury duty at Millstreet this weekend) for his assistance and the UK Judge examiners, Richard Baldwin, Fiona Wilson and Leanne Wall for their thorough work.

“The Judges Committee also owes a debt of gratitude to David Crockford and all the staff at Hickstead Premier League Show for accommodating the Dressage Ireland exams. Only through the foresight of venues which permit upgrading-exams and judge-training to take place at their competitions, can balanced, fair-minded and transparent judging be achieved for the benefit of the Dressage Ireland members and of all riders.”