FIFTEEN clubs contested the team competition at last Sunday’s Connolly’s Red Mills/Association of Irish Riding Clubs’ National Dressage Championships which were held in the centrally-located venue of Mullingar Equestrian.

Thomastown and District, who won the South East Region qualifier at Fernhill Sport Horses in June, claimed the team title for the third time in recent years on a score of 424.265%. Drynam, one of two teams representing the North East Region, filled the reserve slot on 417.445 ahead of Abbeylands (414.840) and the home-based club, Mullingar (411.065).

The successful team comprised Charlotte Clear on her Irish Sport Horse gelding Ramesses B, a 14-year-old Ramiro B gelding on whom she topped the scores in the Elementary championship having upgraded earlier this year; Eva Brennan with her ISH gelding Golden Knight, an 18-year-old chesnut son of Aughrim Knight; Sharon O’Brien riding her similarly-aged piebald mare Chapelhill Tommie; and Sheena Holt with the 14-year-old bay mare Wemyss Bay.

“I’m delighted to be Chairperson of Thomastown and District Riding Club whose riders were so successful at the AIRC National Dressage Championships last Sunday, winning not only the coveted team title but also the RC E championship,” said Margaret Walsh. “This is our third time to win the prestigious team title in recent years following success in 2022 and 2018.”

Club secretary Gillian Hennessy commented: “We all look out for each other in this club and I’m a very proud secretary today.” She paid tribute to the team’s trainer, Rachel Dowley, who has been out of the saddle herself since July having broken several vertebrae which required stabilising surgery.

“I’ve really enjoyed working with the Thomastown and District members over the last couple of years and they very much deserved this success,” revealed Dowley, who hopes to receive the all-clear soon to start rehab. “There were lots of lovely flowers and cards waiting for me when I came out of hospital to cheer me up and their win was the icing on the cake.”

The Carrick-On-Suir rider/coach missed not being at Mullingar and today is facing another very frustrating weekend saying, “This will be the first time I’ve missed the Dressage Ireland National Championships in 18 years!”

The Dressage Ireland judges on duty at Mullingar for the AIRC championships were Bernie Foley (List 1), Michael Moore (List 2A), Jane Whitaker (List 2), Bernie Webb (List 3A), Lynne Cassidy (List 3), Marian Slattery (List 3), Lindsey Ilona Brady (List 4), Mairin Cassidy (List 4), Brona O’Mahony (List 4) and Helen Nolan (List 5).

No doubt, a couple of these have been asked to officiate at the Equipeople/Association of Irish Riding Clubs National Eventing Championships which take place next Sunday, September 15th, at Killossery Lodge Stud.