THE final leg of the Kavanaghs of Newbridge Autumn dressage league was held in the West Leinster Region of Riding Clubs last Sunday and over 70 horse and rider combinations turned out for the event which was hosted by Abbeylands RC at Coilog EC in Kilmeague.

Riders were judged by Pat Creighton and Iris Walshe across seven different classes on the day.

This final leg allowed competitors to compete for a chance to earn some more points towards the overall league results which will be announced in the coming weeks by the regional committee.

Ceara Banner won the primary class for Abbeylands. She competed with Mr. X and won with 72%. Catherine O’Leary from Moyglare placed second with Geoffrey on 71.5%. In the advanced primary class, Fiona Doggett from Cill Dara earned another win with her dun mare Jasmine. The pair won with 73.21%. Emma Downey took second place in this class with Borehard Biscuit for Greenhills RC and scored 71.79%.

The intermediate class attracted a large entry of 20 combinations. Fionnuala O’Connor topped the class with bay gelding Mighty Clever who lived up to his name finishing with 74.75% to win the class for Greenhills RC. Sinead Ellis and West Coast Cougar from Killcarrick RC took second place with 73.25%.

The sportsmans class proved popular with 12 entries. This class invited riders graded intermediate and above to compete riding the advanced primary level test. First place went to Deirdre O’Loughin who competed with HB Miss Kizzy, competing for Phoenix RC and winning on 73.5%. Margaret McCumiskey from Celbridge RC placed second and third in this class with her horses Sheena and Atty Aldto Z respectively.

Of the 12 entries in the advanced intermediate class, it was league leader Claire Maher from Killcarrick RC who produced a top score of 75.48% to win the class. This was the highest score of the day and was awarded to Claire and her mare Miss Chief. In second place, Lyndsey Murphy finished with 71.45% with Moyglass for Killcarrick RC.

The open class had four entries on the day and Kate Solon from Greenhills RC won this class with her grey gelding Loughehoe Legend on 70.25%. Current league leader Sarah Quaid from Cill Dara took second place on this occasion with Riverstown Express on 66.75%.

Karyn Jamieson from Killcarrick RC won the advanced open class with 70.25% on board her bay mare Dutch Diva.

The overall league results will be determined and circulated by the regional committee and the prizes will be awarded at the regional awards night on November 29th. The committee thanked sponsor Kevin Kavanagh for his generous sponsorship of the league.