THERE was another big turnout for the second round of amateur qualifiers for the 2023 Dublin Horse Show in Galway last Saturday with 153 combinations looking to secure one of the eight tickets on offer.

Taking the winning ticket was A category rider Fergus Lawlor when he was the fastest of 11 triple clears aboard Parkcross Casper in a time of 29.96 seconds. This will be the combination’s first time to the Dublin Horse Show. Overall, it was a good weekend for the Laois rider as he took the runner-up place in the 90cm SJI Summer Summer Series in Wexford with Candor Z.

Apart from the winning ticket, the remaining places were all filled by AA riders in what was a very tight jump-off. Waterford’s Roisin Donnelly put in a gallant attempt aboard Ballinamurra Eargon, coming home in a time of 30 seconds for second place. This combination finished fifth in the recent Botanica International Championship in Balmoral. Donnelly is no stranger to the RDS having qualified Seaforde Rebel in 2022 and in 2018 the pair also took fifth place on Saturday but, as per RDS rules, amateur riders can only qualify one animal.

Laura Connors and Abordable Du Talus clocked 30.75 for third place. Abordable Du Talus has previously experienced the RDS having won a young rider class there under the command of Nicholas Connors.

Little separated the next placing as Caitlin Duffy and Jockeyhall Midas Touch stopped the clock in a time of 30.90 for eventual fourth. This combination will not be fazed by the challenge having qualified last year. Lisa Patterson and Little Miss Shutterfly slotted into sixth when they came home with nothing to add in a time of 31.92.

A clear from Gary Flynn and Hyperion in a time of 32.48 saw him take seventh place, ahead of Lisa Hitchmough and Manija, clear in 33.36.

As mentioned above, amateur riders can only qualify one animal under SJI rules, therefore the qualifying tickets went down to ninth place at this round. Filling this slot was Hannah Houlihan and Fantastico C, clear in 34.13. This combination had narrowly missed out in a place in the first qualifier, having knocked a fence in the final round.