South-East entrants to the fore in national dressage showcase
THE NATIONAL dressage championships took place at Cavan Equestrian Centre recently.
With almost 270 entries and 574 tests ridden over three days, the committee did a sterling job to run this show so smoothly.
Classes were run from Junior trailblazers (Under-12) up to grand prix which is the highest level in dressage. Qualification was required for all classes which ran from shortly after the winter finals, held at the same venue in April, until September 9.
There’s been an influx of youngsters into dressage in recent years. Altogether, 42 trailblazer tests were judged, showing that this initiative has been a roaring success in attracting young riders into the sport.
The judging panel were comprised of international judges, some of whom also gave their time generously in an informal Q&A session on the Friday evening. Judges’ training ran concurrently to the nationals, with several Irishbased judges taking their exams to upgrade.
The 14-strong trailblazers Junior preliminary A (for Under-12s) was won by Youth Development Squad (Y.D.S.) member Oscar O’Connor riding his eleven-yearold gelding, Trefriw Pepsi, on 73.8%. This combination also took second in the Novice category on 72.08%.
The prelim. Cat. 3 class was dominated by the South East Rgion where they took first through to fifth places all on scores above 70%.
Rosemary Gaffney won on her nine-year-old Danish mare Werona (73.42%), with second and fifth places going to Y.D.S. founding member Rachel Dowley riding her five-year-olds, Insticator B.S. and Intrique Aimbry.
2016 and 2017 national champion, Anne Marie Dunphy, took third on her five-year-old gelding LEG Hugo, with Elaine Potter, riding her Womanizer gelding CLH Big Red, slotting into fourth.
Ten-year-old Oscar O’Connor won the Novice Category 1 class, riding his recently purchased eight-year-old Dutch pony Top Hero 2, on 73.3%.
Rosemary Gaffney was back in action to take the Cat. 3 title on her Painted Black-sired mare Werona.
U.K. bred Hartpury Sky Is The Limit, ridden by S.E.R. member Gabrielle Le Guay, won the Elementary Cat. 2 on 70.63%, with Hannah Fielding winning the Cat. 3 on her Fidertanz mare Florentina DWS on 73.2%.
The Advanced Medium was won by Y.D.S. graduate Sive Kear- ney and her 13-year-old German-bred gelding Rob Roy on 67.62%.
U.K.-based and list 1 judge Dane Rawlins and his nine-yearold Ehrenmann gelding Espoire took second place in both the Inter 2 and G.P. classes.
The five-year-old class was won by Rachel Dowley on the Florencio-sired gelding Insticator B.S., with a huge score of 85%. This combination also won the Novice Freestyle (F.S.) with a jaw-dropping performance of 83.06% - the top F.S. score of the championship.
Anne Marie Dunphy won the Grand Prix Kur on her 17-year-old Ronaldo-sired gelding Urbanus, with 70.6%, a personal best for this combination.
Para-equestrian classes were well supported with entries for grades 1 through to 5. Grade 3 was won by Kate Kerr-Horan on Serafina T with 70.6%.
Rosemary Gaffney took first and second place with Werona on 71.3% and 70.23% on her twelveyear-old Krac C-sired gelding Bink in the Grade 4 class.
Given the domination demonstrated by the South East Region (S.E.R.) in the above results, it’s no surprise that they won both categories of the team events.
The Senior team comprised Rosemary Gaffney/Werona, Anne Marie Dunphy/LEB Hugo, Gabrielle Le Guay/Hartpury Sky Is The Limit, and Hannah Fielding/ Florentina DWS.
The Under-25 team was made up of Rachel Dowley/Insticator B.S., Rachel Carr/Calelvador May Blossom, Emily Kate Robinson/ Edvaard, and Oscar O’Connor/ Top Hero 2.
See www.dressageireland.ie/ results/national-championships for full results.
The qualification period is now open for the national winter finals in April, 2019. The next South East Region show is in Danville House Farm in Kilkenny on October 21 by kind permission of Barbara Stallard.
Upcoming shows will be added to the Dressage Ireland website throughout the season.
Enquiries relating to the Youth Development Squad should be directed to Jillie Rogers or Anne Marie Dunphy (details on ser. dressageireland.ie).
The Y.D.S. training course is a S.E.R. initiative set up and run by Jillie and Anne Marie. Its purpose is to identify talent early and nurture it for the international scene. Y.D.S. members travel from all regions to partake in the training.