THE first Dressage Ireland-affiliated show of 2025 was staged by the Northern Region last Sunday at Laurel View Equestrian Centre, where it also ran as leg five of the regional Brass Stables UK and Ireland winter league.

Three of the region’s top riders recorded doubles, starting with Courtney Akkari who, on board her Hanoverian gelding Bernabeo, first comfortably topped the final scoreboard of Claire Ewing (List 5) in the 11-runner Novice BD23 on 76.04%. She then replicated that feat on a score of 71.81 in the Elementary DI52, where 10 combinations appeared before Vida Tansey (List 1), who also took judges’ training for Lists 6 and 5 at the show.