THE inaugural Dressage Ireland youth national championships, which were sponsored by the Eastern Region of DI and held last weekend at CoilÓg, featured a dedicated Trailblazers’ section where the widest winning margin was recorded in the TRI Equestrian Mini class.

Here the honours went to south Co Dublin’s Harper Halpin whose combined score of 127.125 on her mother Gilian’s five-year-old Mungret Boy left her clear of Clara Nyhan riding the 16-year-old piebald mare, Molly Dot Com (122). The latter combination, who also compete in combined training for the Carbery Branch, won the Under 10s class at the Irish Pony Club’s national dressage day here at CoilÓg in early April.

Elle Jordan was close up behind in third (119.5) on her mother Aisling’s 15-year-old Welsh Section A gelding Rosedale Markus (by Friars Golden Mark) who, early the previous Saturday, she partnered in the large first ridden classes at the Dublin Horse Show. Later that day, Elle’s brother Finn rode the bay in the show pony lead rein class.

Back to the winner, Harper, who turned eight in June, has been riding Mungret Boy since last September when Gillian purchased the Co Limerick-bred Hilin Renoir gelding from Storm Oxley.

“Storm’s daughter Willow broke him and did a little bit of jumping with him in 2023 as it was her last year in 128s,” related Gillian. “Harper has also done a little bit of jumping with the pony but, this year, we have mainly travelled the country to compete at IPS (Irish Pony Society) and dressage shows.

“Harper and Mungret Boy were overall mini champions at Ballivor, having won the beginner first ridden show hunter pony class; they got reserve champion at the Western Area IPS show in Galway where they won the beginner first ridden show hunter pony class; and were reserve champions at the Kildare/North Leinster Area show in Tattersalls last month having first won the beginner first ridden show pony class. They have also won five dressage competitions this year and came third at the Botanica Summer Festival in early June.”

Lauren MacMahon held off 11 rivals to win the Under 12s Preliminary championship on her mother Carol’s grey gelding The Man From Snowy River (190.875%), a 12-year-old Connemara cross. This pairing have also tried their hands at other disciplines and, representing the Scarteen Branch, have competed in IPC dressage, combined training, eventing and show jumping competitions.

Over 12s

A combined score of 180.125% saw Aoife Crean win the 12-strong Over 12s Preliminary championship on the 18-year-old bay mare Ragazza Bella who often competes in non-restricted Preliminary classes under her owner, Anne Clune. Lucy Russell recorded an uncontested victory in the Under 12s’ Novice class with her mother Nicki’s 22-year-old bay gelding Daddys Dollars.

There were five starters in the Over 12s’ Novice class where Ava Boyd recorded a narrow victory on the Connemara gelding Ballinamoona Boy (203%), an 18-year-old Earl of Newbridge grey. Here, we must mention Lucy Ferris, a member of the Newcastle Lyons Branch of the IPC, who finished second and third respectively on Queen Cassie (202.375) and Duncarbery Cascade (196.625). Ferris partnered the same ponies to place second and third in the Over 12s Preliminary class but in reverse order.

Mentioned above, Clara Nyhan and Molly Dot Com were members of the South Munster quartet who won the DSE Equestrian Outfitters Trailblazers’ regional team competition. Also representing South Munster were Stephanie Fleming on the 122cms Welsh palomino mare Waitwith Finola (mini championship), Amy Hearne with the 133cns Welsh chesnut gelding Brandon Zimbabwe (Under 12s’ Preliminary) and Doireann Elbert on the 22-year-old skewbald gelding Dunbeggan Dreamer (Over 12s’ Preliminary).