A BUSY weekend for the Leinster Region committee started on Saturday when they ran a winter league/end-of-year show with a Christmas theme at Greenogue where, having funded the booking of the English judges for Sunday, they made good use of them the day before as well!

The organisers offered free mulled wine and mince pies to competitors and supporters but also encouraged them to purchase goods at the mini Christmas fair as the stall holders all sponsored prizes on the day, with turn-out and best score prizes being awarded as well as gifts for the class winners.

A three-time winner on the day was Joanne Jarden who topped the scores in the Elementary BD59 on Stormhill Raindance (70.47) and in the Advanced Medium BD94 (58.68) plus, unopposed, in the Advanced BD105 (65.78) with Quarryhill Calypso.

North Co Dublin’s Jenny Doran struck twice, winning both the Elementary DI55 (71.07) and the Medium DI65 (67.81) with Horseplay Clover Star.

Two riders warmed up for their successes on HSI finals day with a double apiece on Saturday. Tara Oliver won both the Advanced Medium DI90 (73.68, the day’s highest score) and, unopposed, the Advanced DI100 (62.43) with Senators Rhonaldo while Ellen began her excellent weekend by winning both FEI Pony Tests on Dante Alighieri, scoring 67.14 in the team test and 70.68 in the individual.

Anne Marie Dunphy failed to record a win on Sunday but did strike twice the previous afternoon when landing the Medium BD73 on LEB Hugo (68.97) before partnering that gelding’s dam, Her Highness Willow, to victory in the Intermediaire II (65.74).

Disappointingly for those who had entered the Northern Region show at Connell Hill on Saturday, it had to be cancelled as the English judge who had been engaged for the day was impacted by Covid and couldn’t travel.