THE Castle Hill club saw off their sole rivals, Rathangan Pirates, to win the musical ride as The Irish Field dressage section came to a close on day one of the AIRC Festival in the Mullingar Equestrian Centre last Saturday.

This early evening ‘match’ took place in the outdoor sand arena where riders had to contend with a strong wind as did the AIRC’s director-general David Abbott who could be seen holding on to the speakers each time a gust came.

The winning squad, whose ‘Flamenco’ routine was choreographed by Lindsey Ilona Brady, comprised Anne Dickinson (Rocklawns Warrior), Diane Ford McCoy (Mr Brown), Elaine Mulligan (DMF Alphabet), Rosemarie Russell (Aughlin Mrs D), Sarah Reilly (Clabbystown Little Tom) and Wayne Carruthers (Derrynagarra Captain). Michelle Reid was responsible for the costumes.

Sunday’s lower-grade dressage to music competition was won by RCP3 level rider Laura Ryan of the South West club on board her 16-year-old skewbald gelding Toy Story Boy while Clonmel’s Sarah Jane Weissenbach claimed the RCN, RCE, RCM division with the 14-year-old piebald mare Freyas Choice.

It was a good weekend for Ryan and Toy Story Boy who also won their RC Preliminary 3 class with four points in hand on Saturday and the same grade long arena competition on Sunday, although not as decisively on this occasion.