KILLOSSERY Lodge Stud in Rolestown, Co Dublin was a hive of activity as it played host to the penultimate round of RDS Amateur qualifiers last Saturday. Sponsored by Horse First Supplements, this round saw 132 combinations battling it out for one of the coveted places on offer.

No stranger to the pressure of the RDS, Meath native Peter Dargan will be making his return to the five-star show having claimed victory with his own Ballivor Man when he delivered a triple clear in a time of 31.21.

Owned by Paula Dargan and bred by Anthony Doherty from Limerick, Ballivor Man is a 18-year-old by Ard Vdl Douglas out of Lady Graf.

This combination boasts an impressive record, which includes winning the Farmers Journal Amateur League last year. They qualified for the Dublin Horse Show last year and missed out on a place in the main ring when they had four faults in both qualifiers.

The standard at Killossery was extremely high with 22 of the 34 combinations that booked their place in the final jump-off delivering clears. In this round, the qualifying spots were filled by AA category riders. In what was a nail-biting final round, just fractions of a second divided the placings in what has been the most hotly contested round yet.

Showjumping Ireland will be represented by the chair of the amateur committee as Aideen Kirby got her ticket when finishing second with Derg Masterpiece after she came home in 31.54. This combination finished in fifth place last year in the final championship at Dublin.

Little divided the next place as Fermanagh rider Caitriona Cody and Shanroe Socialite were hot on Kirby’s heels, clocking 31.58 for third place. This 12-year-old Mermus R-sired mare qualified for the Dublin Horse Show in 2019 when under the guidance of Cody.

Louise Craig didn’t hang about with her own Cherry Wine and their time of 32.17 would prove good enough for fourth place. Bred by Michael Doherty, this seven-year-old mare has been produced by Craig since a four-year-old and they will be making their debut in the amateur ranks in Dublin.

Tara Brandon partnered Oilean Dunlop to a clear in 32.25. Owned by Raymond O’Connor, the 15-year-old gelding is by Captain Clover. This combination finished third in the amateur jump-off class in Mullingar International.

Colm Fitzpatrick and Maretto Flight crossed the line in 32.77 for sixth. Owned by Johnnie Fitzpatrick and bred by Marie Moloney of Warrington Equestrian, the 10-year-old mare is by Amaretto Darco out of Mist flight. This combination finished in fifth place in the Derravarra Championship at Mullingar last week.

Slotting into seventh place was Antrim rider Niamh McFall and Bay of Biscay when they galloped home in 32.85. This pair finished runner-up in the Farmers Journal (A) league last year.

Aine O’Gorman and Rincoola Tintean accounted for eighth place, clear in 33.50. The 13-year-old mare was bred by the late Harold McGahern and is by Cabdula Du Tillard.