THERE have been many people born in Ballyfermot who have been involved in horses over the years, mainly in racing. Few in the suburb have shown an interest in dressage and none have had the determination and talent of Kevin Acres who was crowned Dressage Ireland’s national champion for 2023 last Saturday evening in Mullingar.

Riding Con McCarthy’s Dutch Warmblood gelding Ganesh in the five-strong, E.I.S.-sponsored Grand Prix, 26-year-old Acres claimed the title on a combined percentage score of 69.725. Fifteen-year-old Sophia Doheny finished second on her mother Louise’s 2005 Westphalian gelding Enrico (63.75) with Sorrell Klatzko slotting into third with Turbo (63.37), another Westphalian gelding.

Unfortunately, McCarthy was not on hand to witness Saturday’s victory having travelled down to Ballindenisk where the Irish Sport Horse mare Greenogue Gigi, a home-bred Je T’Aime Flamenco six-year-old he owns with his daughter Lucy, won the CCI2*-S. This she did on her dressage score under Irish international Ian Cassells who lives close to the McCarthy family’s Greenogue Equestrian and is coached on the flat by Acres.

“I was absolutely delighted with both results but especially my win in Mullingar!” said the new national champion.

“One of the judges, who awarded me over 70%, commented that Ganesh and I were a lovely partnership and I was really pleased with that as dressage, especially at a higher level, is all about the partnership.

He is very talented in his piaffe and passage but I need to make our work more harmonious and accurate. I feel he is consistent at Grand Prix level but we need more exposure so that he shows show in public what he can do at home.”

Ganesh, an 11-year-old son of Jazz, was purchased in Holland just before lockdown after which Acres did a lot of work with the gelding under the scrutiny of Heike Holstein and online with Johann Hinnemann. Connections obviously thought a lot of the horse as, when sport opened up in restricted form, Acres started him off in a Prix St George at Redhills Stud in September 2020.

“I have never really worked abroad but did spend some time training in Germany with Judy Reynolds and this year Ganesh and I travelled with her to shows in Slovenia and the Czech Republic; we both learned a lot from the experience. We have a few nice young horses here in Greenogue to produce and I also love coaching riders at all levels.

“While I was born in Ballyfermot, I spent most of my life living in Lucan but moved to Kilcock about six years ago. My family had no connection with horses or riding so I used to go to Maynooth Equestrian for lessons on ponies. I worked for a long time with Sandra Blake Farrell at Dollanstown Stud until starting here at Greenogue with Lucy about three years ago.

"I have been very fortunate as, in all aspects of life, you need the right people to help you. Anyone can then achieve what they set out to do.”

Sophia Doheny and Enrico (70.38%) recorded an uncontested victory in the Ultimate Dressage Experience Grand Prix Kür while Co Limerick-based Dublin native Tara Oliver Donohoe won the seven-runner Botanica International Prix St George freestyle on her 2014 Oldenburg gelding Senators Rhonaldo (70.375).

The other Botanica International freestyle horse championship winners were Nicki McKee with Isperado (67.085% in the Advanced Medium), Junior international Ellen McDonald on Dante Alighieri (65.915 in the Medium), Aimee Oliver with Love The Difference (68.27 in a very competitive Elementary championship) and Myriam Bunter on Star Of Rubykan (71.665 in the Novice).