DESPITE the remnants of unwelcome meteorological visitor Storm Betty lingering across Northern Ireland last Saturday morning, the latest leg of the Dressage Ireland Northern Region Summer league went ahead at Gransha Equestrian in the beautiful seaside resort of Bangor in Co Down.

It proved to be a week to remember for Karen McKeown with the former Northern Region secretary facing her own deluge of well wishes following the announcement of her engagement to Brian Murray. Just two days later she won the Open class at Gransha with VSH Gangster. Recently upgraded list one judge Joanne Jarden had Karen and her twelve-year-old KWPN gelding in pole position on 63.53% in the small tour Open Prix St-Georges class.

“I’m delighted. VSH Gangster was much more relaxed and settled,” said Karen. “I have had him since he was a four-year-old and sourced him through my trainer Carolyn Mellor. Carolyn was recently away on international duty and returned two weeks ago. This has made a huge difference to me with the consistent availability of her training.

“There was some debris on the roads when travelling to the venue following the storm but very fortunately it did not impact on the show. We competed in the outdoor arena on Saturday and Carolyn was in the warm up with me which really helped. He is now qualified at Prix St-Georges and Advanced level for the national championships.

“I purchased my six-year-old, the imposing Mister Galaxie Win standing at18hh, last August. Carolyn brought him to Ireland as a foal. He is qualified at preliminary and novice levels for the nationals in Mullingar which I am really looking forward to.”

Double for McDonald

Junior international rider Ellen McDonald completed a double at category two level with the Dutch riding pony Dante Alighieri winning the Medium 67 class on a score of 68.03% and the Medium 69 on a 70.61% total. There was one competitor at category three, Saintfield-based Barbara Ellison and Moonlight scored 64.09% in Medium 67 and 65.45% in Medium 69. Dressage trainer Dale Roberts and his nine-year-old Rademon Aachen prevailed in the Advanced Medium FEI JI class on a 64.06% total. Nicki McKee and the Desparado gelding Isperado scored 63.33% to win the Advanced medium FEI JT class. Suzie Seagry and Hollie Donnan won the Elementary DIE56a category two class on 71.61% and were unopposed in the Junior Novice category two completing on 66.50%.

Denise Kelly Rice made a worthwhile journey from Moorhill Stables in Newry winning the Elementary BD53 category two class on 69.41% with Forvanna, fondly known as Annaka, and they recorded a 69.60% total in the six-year-old class.

The Rousseau gelding Intruige Aimbry and Ruaidhrí Ó Cianáin were unopposed in the Elementary 56 and 53 category three, scoring 66.61% and 67.06% respectively. Ivor Harper had Deborah Allen as his winner in the Novice 38 category one class on 67.42% with Rose of Gethsemane. Cindy Cunningham’s Appaloosa gelding Comanche Arrow, ridden by Jaclyn Brackenridge, placed second on 65.48%.

Joanne Jarden opted for Comanche Arrow in the Novice 38 category one class on 67.50% with Deborah the runner-up this time scoring 64.67%. Roma Oakes and Radar scored 66.29% to win the Novice 38 category two class with Joanne McKelvie and Peregrina LXX the category two winners in Novice 24a on 69.17%. Clantara Lord Louis won both category three contests scoring 67.90% (Novice 38) and 71.83% (Novice 24a). On a week when the Connemara breed was to the fore the Ashfield Romeo Connemara gelding Killoughter Nugget and Lucy Donnan scored 68.17% to win the Junior Novice.

Elamo New Kid in Town, owned and ridden by Amy Steele, got the nod from Martina McKinley to top the standings in the Preliminary DIP5a category one class on 68.21%. Louise Cleland and Rumour Has It scored 70.36% to win category two. The sole category three entry was Linda McIlwaine and Roundthorn Oreo completing on a 70.71% total.

Amanda Speers maintained her good form with her Builders Delight gelding Billy Rocket. The winners at Knockagh View collected another first rosette at Gransha scoring 67.41% to win the Preliminary BD17a category one class. Louise Cleland (Rumour Has It) and Shenade Duggan (Homegrown Hendrix) could not be separated on 68.28% to jointly win category two.

Linda McIlwaine and Roundthorn Oreo were unopposed in category three scoring 68.45%. Eve Adair and the piebald mare Dot scored 69.83% to win the Junior Preliminary class. The piebald gelding Midnight Minty was another to visit the winner’s enclosure.

Rider Amelia Wheeler scored 72.32% for first prize in the Trailblazer Junior Preliminary class. Amelia and Midnight Minty were the only combination in the Trailblazer Junior Novice class scoring 70.67%. Robyn Rick was the sole competitor in the Trailblazers Children’s under 12 class scoring 67.86% with Rostrevor Ard Ri.