THE final of the Horse Sport Ireland dressage autumn development series takes place tomorrow week at Greenogue where, travel restrictions allowing, three Britain-based judges will join a quartet of home adjudicators.

Richard Baldwin, Douglas Hibbard and Dane Rawlins have accepted an invitation from Dressage Ireland to judge at the series final on December 12th with Dermot Cannon, Michael Moore, Bernie Webb and Jane Whitaker.

There won’t be any Trailblazers’ competitions at the HSI final but young riders – and others – will be accommodated at the Leinster Region Christmas show in Greenogue next Saturday, December 11th.

While this show will be a leg of the Region’s winter league, it’s open to all DI members and also to unregistered horses/riders. It will provide an opportunity for riders competing at the final to have a late practice run and the visiting judges will be in action here as well. There will be plenty of festive cheer, mulled wine and a mini shopping village.

This weekend

Dressafe enthusiasts are being well catered for this weekend with the Northern and Eastern Regions holding shows today at Connell Hill and Marlton respectively, while tomorrow the Midland and Western Region winter league continues at the Ower Equestrian Centre and the North Munster Region stages a show at Clonlara.

In addition to the Leinster Region show at Greenogue next Saturday, the Northern Region is holding one at the Gransha Equestrian Centre, Bangor. Following next Sunday’s final of the Horse Sport Ireland dressage autumn development series, there is no show currently scheduled until the end of January when the Midland and Western Region get the ball rolling again.