HIGHLAND Lodge, who last won the AIRC team show jumping championship final at the RDS in 2016, claimed the title once again last Sunday as the 2026 Gallagher Dublin Horse Show came to a close.

As usual, one team representing each of the AIRC’s eight regions plus Coole Lane, winners of the wildcard qualifier at the AIRC Festival, contested the final in the EOS IT Solutions Arena over a track designed by Alan Lynch. Thanks to the co-operation of riders and the AIRC stewards, the final ran very smoothly.

At the halfway stage, the Meath team of Ian Quinlan (Carnegie Hall), Sheelagh Brady (Glen Cruising), Emily Noonan (Rincoola Mist) and Claire O’Dwyer (Forever Milo) held the lead on four faults, ahead of HIghland Lodge (six). At this stage, four teams shared third place on eight faults apiece - Carne, Cheval, Calliaghstown and Nephin.

None of that four remained in the top three following the second round, as Highland Lodge came to the fore to win on a total of 14 faults. Meath filled the runner-up spot on 16 with Ciara Shannon, Chloe Rice, Andrea Finnegan and Leonard Reamsbottom finishing third for Coole Lane (16 faults).

The turn-out award was won by the Carne quartet of Sophie Whitehead, Lisa Whitehead, Abbey O’Driscoll and Albert Whitehead.

The victorious Highland Lodge team comprised Alison Harvey with her seven-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Carneyhaugh Quantum (by Harlequin du Carel), Molly O’Connor riding the 15-year-old ISH gelding Creevagh Fermiro (by Camiro de Haar Z), Tara O’Sullivan with the 23-year-old ISH gelding Rowanhill Master Clover (by Master Imp) and Chloe Dineen with Bunowen Scotty (by Lockinge Frederick), a seven-year-old Connemara gelding owned by chef d’equipe/trainer, Jill Twomey.

“The team were also supported on the day by a fantastic turnout of club members, who made the journey to cheer them on,” revealed Highland Lodge’s PRO, Chloe Kavanagh. “A very special thank you to all the other clubs and their supporters who cheered Highland Lodge out of the arena following their win - it made the occasion even more memorable. We’re delighted to have brought the championship title back to Highland Lodge and are very proud of the team.”

“We would like to thank Fiona Sheridan, and all at the RDS, for having us here again,” commented the AIRC’s general manager, Elaine Dunne. “Our members really enjoy their time at the RDS and, for some, it’s a dream come true. Thanks also to Premier Performance, who sponsored the qualifiers, and to the judges, course builders and stewards who worked so hard at these.”