THERE can hardly be a more idyllic venue for dressage in this country than the walled garden at Castle Irvine, Necarne where the Northern Region of Dressage Ireland staged a two-day Festival last weekend.

Given the difficulties the Region has experienced in recent weeks in sourcing HSI-accredited judges, and the additional expenses this has entailed, it was disappointing that the festival wasn’t better supported. However, while the organisers had some anxious moments waiting for the classes to fill before the close of entry, around 220 tests were ridden over the weekend and four of the seven championships were won by combinations from outside the Region.

The only rider to leave the Co Fermanagh venue with two titles to her credit was Co Down’s Courtney Stuart who won the Medium (72.09%) and Advanced Medium (68.13) championships with her seven-year-old Follow Me gelding, Favorino.

Finishing closest to Stuart at Medium level was Lucy Adams with the nine-year-old New Forest gelding Esdals King W.A. (68.47) while Joanne Jarden filled the reserve slot in the Advanced Medium championship with the 12-year-old Rockrimmon Senator mare Quarryhill Calypso (67.33).

“I was delighted with Vino,” said Stuart. “It was a great weekend and while the festival could have been better supported, those who did compete really enjoyed the two days. As I am getting married (to veterinary surgeon Chris Akkari) in September, I’m not making too many other plans at present!

“I hope to compete at Connell Hill at the end of the month but am undecided as yet about the Nationals at Barnadown (September 23 to 25). If I do go, I’ll do the Medium and Advanced Medium. This past weekend was only his third and fourth time to do Advanced Medium and he’s still green at that level but I do believe that he has all the attributes to make a Grand Prix horse and that’s what I want to do with him.

“As he is the only competition horse I have at present, in four or five months or so – after the wedding anyway – I’ll start to look for a young horse to bring on. At present, I’m really busy teaching and that’s teaching riders from five years of age to 65 years of age. I love seeing people learn how to do a rising trot or jump their first small fence. I’m lucky to have the support of my Mum (Adrienne) and that I can use the riding school ponies at Gransha.

“I like this time of year as, although I could give the first of 11 lessons at 8am, I’m finished about four each afternoon which is much better than late evenings during the winter.

Favorino is a real eye-catcher as is Forvanna who won the novice championship on a two-day total of 73.08 under Denise Kelly Rice. Here, Northern Region chair Joan Adrain finished reserve with Carolyn Mellor’s VSH Moviestar (70.03), a five-year-old bay gelding by Johnson.

Kelly Rice, who runs the Moorhill Stables outside Newry and a private hair extension salon, is producing Forvanna (aka Annaka) for American owner Pamela Combs Wilson who also has a four-year-old by Hanley out of a Fantomas de Muze mare at the Co Down yard.

“This year, we moved Annaka up to novice level and dipped our toes in the Elementary last weekend,” commented the rider. “We also won the five-year-old qualifier at Gransha and hope to get our final qualifier in August for the FEI five-year-old class at the Nationals in September. We will continue to do Novice this year along with the odd Elementary. The plan is to continue to produce her up the levels. She means the world to me and holds a very special place in my heart. I’m very excited for our future together.” A Westphalian mare bred in The Netherlands, Forvanna is by Formidable.