Amateurs preview \ Emer Bermingham

AS always the RDS Amateur qualifiers were hard fought this summer and such was the high standard that even if combinations were lucky enough to deliver a triple clear, time proved a major factor in securing a qualifying place at Dublin.

In the first round at Killossery, a total of 147 combinations lined out and of those, 48 delivered double clear rounds.

Claiming the first of the coveted tickets was AA Sallins rider Lisa Marie Dolly and Newgrange Lady. Amongst their good results was a win in the Amateur Balmoral qualifier at Mullingar and Barnadown along with a second in the Cavan qualifier.

No stranger to the main arena in Dublin Horse show, fellow AA rider Lorraine Younge booked her place with Little Miss Russel at the first qualifier, as did AA rider Sarah Kinnear and Elf Queen who also stayed within the 30-second barrier. Colm Fitzpatrick will have plenty of support from his family as he qualified Maretto Flight after finishing fifth.

Another family well familiar with the RDS is the Drennans from Kilkenny and they will have much to look forward to as Gemma Drennan booked her place when finishing seventh with Cavachino. No doubt she will have plenty of support from her father Pat who will form part of the arena party in the main ring. There will be plenty of cheering too for Wicklow’s Laura Walshe who qualified after filling eighth place with the home-bred Ballinaguilkey Heritage.

At the round in Galway, the top eight finishers came home within 35 seconds, demonstrating just how competitive this round proved to be. No stranger to this pressure, Kilkenny’s Marie Hartley (AA) took the win with Nikita Van Het Heidenhof, a combination that last year finished as runner-up in the RDS championships when they were one of just three double clears. This combination has been in form of late, claiming third in the Botanica International Amateur Championship. They also finished fourth in the opening round of the 1.10m Mervue Equine Leinster Tour at Barnadown.

Meanwhile, fourth place was filled by Carlow rider (A) Leonie Dunne with Cavalino 26. This combination finished fifth in the championship last year when they clocked the second fastest time of the jump-off but was unlucky to have one on the floor. Lorraine MacGuinness (A) also stayed within the 34-second marker with Horseware Kinmar Night, and slotted into fifth place. This combination had booked their place in the jump-off in the first qualifier in Killossery, failed to qualify on that occasion, but made no mistake second time out.

Following a great season in 2021, Limerick’s Aideen Kirby (AA) secured her place when she partnered Derg Masterpiece into sixth place. Kirby, who is chairperson of Showjumping Ireland’s Amateur committee, is making her return to the RDS having qualified last year. Having claimed the Dublin Horse Show Championship in 2019, Sligo rider Adrian Gilmartin took seventh place with the very reliable Carnaval Cocktail.

Welcome return

Making a welcome return to the RDS will be Co Meath’s Peter Dargan (A) when he partnered his own 17-year-old Ballivor Man to victory at the Tipperary qualifier. Although only back in the saddle a short time, Dargan showed great form going into that qualifier having claimed two wins in Mullingar International and victory in the Orchard Equestrian/NAPS Amateur at Edgeworthstown.

Another one to note after this qualifier is Barbara Fahey who answered all the questions with Earlspark Dior for seventh. This 17-year-old mare has been a loyal servant for Fahey, having begun their career together in 2009 and they have clocked up numerous wins since.

It all went down to the final round at Ballinamona with amateur riders giving it their all in a bid to secure their Dublin place. Taking the win in the last qualifier was Tyrone rider Roisin Donnelly with Seafore Rebel. In 2018 this combination took third place in the Dublin Horse Show.

Another horse making a return to the RDS is Take A Gamble having been partnered to a second place in Ballinamona by Michael O’Neill. This horse had previously won in Dublin with Sara Gorman. Another rider very consistent on the amateur circuit is Wexford’s Hannah McNiven and she booked their place in this round after finishing third.