ONE of the highlights of the AIRC Festival is The Irish Field Musical Ride, which took place in the Aloga international sand arena on a sunny Saturday evening at Mullingar Equestrian.

Dressage Ireland judges Lisa O’Brien and Lindsey Ilona Brady scored the ‘Adams family’ entry from Earls Well Riding Club from Ballinhassig, Co Cork, as the winners. The team of Bichris Coupana (Rogue Trader), Eva Osojca Mikuta (The Unicorn), Finola Craven (Oilean Hitachi), Jennifer O’Donovan (CW Monty), Kate O’Shea (Send Me On) and Sarah O’Connell (CW Coco) completed on 88.46% for a memorable victory.

The 2023 winners, Lakelands Riding Club from Co Cavan, missed out this year, but they really entered into the spirit of the occasion with their very topical celebration of 100 years of Irish participation at the Olympic Games. They used the iconic John Williams Los Angeles Olympic fanfare as their music backing track.

Their team of Áine Tully (Ballywillpower), Caroline O’Reilly (Lus Na Meala Ruby Tuesday), Clare Turner (Bodie’s Blonde Ambition), Ellen Rudden (Syruss Blue), Rosemary Armstrong (Capella Star) and Sharon Shanley (Sam) featured memorable moments from Ireland’s Olympic history including our successful boxing teams, international rowers the O’Donovan brothers and Cian O’Connor’s bronze medal win at the 2012 London Games.

Twinfort unbeatable

Helen Nolan, Christina Keane and Clare Fitzsimons were on judging duty for the teams of three class. Limerick’s Twinfort Riding Club team of Owen Smyth (Dark Site), Tabitha Millar Hagerty (Westeria Lane) and Tara Dalton (Burgomistr) proved to be unbeatable posting a 71.30% total.

The Thomastown and District team of Charlotte Clear (Ramesses B), Lisa O’Neill (Mon Petit Chou) and Yvonne Hoban (Aghalona Pop It) scored 69.57% to slot into second. The South West Riding Club trio of Astrid Blom (Grelson ZK), Kieran O’Sullivan (Hillowan William) and Rebecca Dwyer (Ecusson) completed the podium in third place on 68.89%.

On a good weekend for teams from Munster, the duo of Kieran O’Sullivan (Hillowan William) and Rebecca Dwyer (Ecusson) from South West Riding Club scored 80.88% to win the fancy dress pairs class.

The Prix Caprilli classes took place in the Mullingar Equestrian indoor arena on the opening day of the festival. Lisa O’Brien judged the RC P1 and RC P2 division. Competitors from Leinster won both classes, with O’Brien opting for Moyglare Riding Club member Chantal Stewart and Bobby Dazzler II on a winning score of 73.33%. Sinead Codd and the rescue piebald IHWT Hero found favour with judge Clare Fitzsimons to win the Prix Caprilli RC P3 and Novice section for Co Kilkenny’s Thomastown and District Riding Club scoring 74.72%.