ANNE Marie Dunphy became the first rider in over a decade to successfully defend her title when she was once again crowned National Champion at Dressage Ireland’s annual national championships in Cavan Equestrian Centre last weekend.

It was fitting that on the 40th anniversary of the show, the first ever champion Jacki Doherty was on hand to present Dunphy with her prize.

Doherty reflected on how dressage has developed in Ireland during this time, and with almost 800 tests performed over three days, this show was not only the busiest on record, but also a testament to the ever-increasing strength of the sport.

Dunphy began the weekend as she meant to continue by winning Friday’s Inter II. Riding her reigning champion Urbanus, she then earned a mark of 67.60% from visiting judges Trond Asmyr and Jane Peberdy to take Saturday’s Grand Prix. Their winning score demonstrates an improvement of almost 4% on that of last year.

“I’m honoured to have joined the list of riders who have won this title more than once,” said Dunphy afterwards. “I’m also delighted with the progress Urbanus has made at this level in the past year, and with how it is reflected in his improving scores.”

Visiting judge and former FEI director of dressage Trond Asmyr concurred, saying: “This horse shows all the qualities necessary for international competition.”

In another repeat of last year, Sandra Blake Farrell filled the reserve spot at Inter II and Grand Prix before topping the leader board in the Kur.

It was an emotional show for the Dollanstown-based rider, as she has decided to retire her 22-year-old partner Saint Emilion from big tour.

“It’s not the end of him yet though,” Blake Farrell said, explaining her student Kevin Acres is set to compete him at a lower level next year.

MOST SUCCESSFUL RIDER

Heike Holstein consolidated her position as the most successful rider in the history of the national championships when she claimed titles in each of the four classes she contested.

The home-bred Sambuca remained undefeated across the board at small tour, while, with her new ride Charmeur, she successfully defended her title in the Advanced Championship.

“I’m so thrilled with the nationals this year,” Holstein said. “It was great to win with Charmeur on what was only our third outing together. He’s a real gentleman, an equine teddy bear.”

Of Sambuca, with who Holstein has won a total of nine national titles to date, she added: “I was pleased that she showed so much more maturity this year. She still looked at things but she got over it, whereas last year she would have spooked the whole way through the test. She’s a star- and I’m her minion!”

There was another emotional end to a combination’s career together in the medium category three championship, when Courtney Stuart made her last outing on Betty Boo II a winning one.

The combination came close to victory in the medium freestyle too, but Vision Sport Horse’s stable jockey Nikki McKee eventually emerged on top, having pulled off a difficult floorplan on board VSH Chablis. Mary Devine was “delighted” to win the category two championship at this level.

Former national champion Laragh O’Grady managed a clean sweep at elementary, when she won the category three and freestyle championships with the six-year-old son of Jaguar Mail, Mullentine Emerald Wolfe Tone.

Combining riding with judging duties over the weekend, Lucy Adams finished second to O’Grady in the straight elementary before going on to win the novice freestyle championship.

Her score of 75.972% with Dalway’s Frere, her ride of just six months, saw her take the prize for the overall highest scoring freestyle.

Rebecca O’Toole and Hannah Fielding both accomplished doubles at prelim and novice, in the category one and category three championships respectively. The former rode Glenedens Lance A Little, with who she has enjoyed success in amateur classes under Eventing Ireland rules this year, while Fielding rode DWS Florentina.

This promising five-year-old mare is by Fidertanz out of a Hohenstein mare who is a full sister to the ill-fated stallion His Highness, and was imported by Fielding from Germany as a just-backed youngster. She impressed the judges throughout the weekend, never scoring less than 70%.