THE Leinster Region of Dressage Ireland held its annual general meeting last Wednesday week in The Halfway House, Dublin, where the leading rider awards for 2024 were presented.

On the official business side of the evening, there are no changes to the committee with the following quartet remaining in situ – Petra Larkin (chairperson), Clare Fitzsimons (vice chairman), Lorna O’Hare (secretary) and Davina Ni Mhuineacháin (treasurer).

The three highest-graded 2024 award winners were Jennifer Egan for her results at Advanced level and above with her 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Gabriel-Tetti (by Florencio); Sophia Swan who claimed the Advanced Medium title with her traditionally-bred 16-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Tanzanite Diddly Squat (by Albano) and Ger McNulty, winner of the Medium award with the 12-year-old British Warmblood gelding Dionysus II (by Desert Moon).

Zara Bolger was presented with the Elementary award following her 2024 season on her 16-year-old traditionally-bred ISH mare Enoville Jade (by Enoville Lad), while Eloise McNeely was the recipient of the Novice award thanks to the performances of her 20-year-old bay mare Glenmullen Zelda. The Preliminary award, and the title of overall rider of the year, went to Nadine Taylor who partnered two horses last season, the traditionally-bred ISH mare Heigh Ho Rosey, a nine-year-old chesnut daughter of Heigh Ho Dubh, and her nine-year-old Irish Draught gelding Wardtown Macha (by Agherlow).

This weekend, the Region is holding its first show of 2025, a two-day fixture in the National Sport Horse Arena. Today’s action is confined to Trailblazers and those competing their horses at Preliminary and Novice levels, while those competing at higher grades will have the venue to themselves tomorrow.