THE third leg of the Kavanaghs of Newbridge Spring dressage league was held on St Patrick’s Day at Calliaghstown Riding Club, Rathcoole, Co Dublin, and with 71 entries, it underlined the increasing popularity of dressage in the region in recent years.

Six classes were judged by Mairin Cassidy (intermediate, advanced intermediate and open) and by Claire Fitzsimons in the primary, advanced primary and sportsmans classes.

In the primary grade, Olga Levis from Winterdown Riding Club took first place, competing with Ruby for a score of 68.18%. Second place in the primary class went to Elodie Ratou from Killcarrick Riding Club who scored 65.45% on Garfield. This performance has Elodie lying in first place and Olga lying in second place so far in the overall league table.

Two riding clubs dominated the advanced primary class with riders from Greenhills taking first, fourth, fifth and joint sixth place and riders from Killcarrick taking second, third and joint sixth.

Lianne O’Shea and Bento Van De Noordheuvel took first place in the competitive advanced primary class with 69.50%. This is the first win for the pair from Greenhills RC who are enjoying their first competition season together. Denise Duff and Missoula Magio from Killcarrick RC took second place with 69.25%. In the overall league, this puts Lianne O’Shea into the lead ahead of Trish Carey and Boots from Killcarrick RC lying second.

The sportsmans class was open to riders graded intermediate and above and allowed them to compete riding the advanced primary test. Host club Calliaghstown took first and second place in this class. Eva Byrne took first place with Ben on 67.25% while Miriam Marron took second place with 66.75% with Silver Petal.

In the intermediate class, Greenhills riding club had first and second place. Bay gelding Mighty Clever lived up to his name to score 72.24% with Fionnuala O’Connor and win the class on the highest score awarded on the day. Second place went to Olwyn Butler and grey mare Santero who scored 70.52%. Fiona Doggett and Jasmine from Cill Dara RC, winners of the second leg of the league, took third place at this third leg leaving them in the lead in the league table.

In the advanced intermediate class, Katie Donovan and her mare Prada had a very successful first outing in the league. The pair from Moyglare RC won the class on 69%. Lyndsey Murphy and Moyglass Hill from Killcarrick RC took second place with 68.75%. Marian Murphy from Calliaghstown RC placed fifth at this third leg with Roxy and the pair remain at the top of the league leaderboard.

In the open class, Jennie Curran and Landanos Rolling Clover from Killcarrick earned their second consecutive win. They won the class 68.75% ahead of Lisa Doran and Spongebob from Calliaghstown RC on 67.34%. Sarah Quaid and Riverstown Express from Cill Dara RC placed fifth and remain in the lead in the league to date, just ahead of Jennie Curran and Landanos Rolling Clover.

There are three legs of competition remaining in the Kavanaghs of Newbridge Dressage league which will offer riding club members the opportunity to compete to earn points towards overall league results and prizes. The fourth leg will be hosted by Castledermot at Brownstown on Easter Sunday, April 5th.