Shires Dressage League: Results of Leg 1- Barrow Valley

Barrow Valley RC kicked off the 2020 AIRC South East region's events calendar today (2nd Feb) as they hosted the first leg of the ever popular dressage league, this year kindly sponsored by Shires Equestrian. The event was held, with the kind permission of Susan Patterson, at Carrigbeg Riding Stables, and once again it was clear to see we are in for a competitive dressage league as only fractions of a percent made all the difference when it came down to some of the placings. 

The Primary class commenced the day as host club member John Kearney, riding Hot Jameson, took to the stage under both, the watchful eye of judge Sarah Jane Doyle and the sharp lens of photographer John O'Carroll. The pair's performance put them into a comfortable third place finish, behind the two highest score achievers of the day, Coole Lane riders, Sandra Doody & Martin Carroll, both scoring an impressive 76.6% and 73.3% respectively to claim first and second, with their horses Test of Courage and Ardlea Indian Lady. Coole Lane continued their winning form as it was their member Cheryl Keogh riding Lord Budley who claimed fourth, followed closely by Deirdre Deegan (Ballycanew) with Derryvale Princess in fifth whilst host club member Catriona Doran riding Madame Rouge took sixth.

The young horse class was battled out between Coole Lane and Horetown, but it was Coole Lane's member Lisa Mulhall with her recently backed Rio who took the lead over Horetown's Annmarie Finn and her horse Galaxy. The Advanced Primary class proved to be the most hotly contested division, with a clean sweep going to the host club themselves as Barrow Valley stole the show in this grade. Point two of a percent separated first and second place, as Valerie Crean and her horse Kildoon Trix, score of 71.5% took pole position, with Isobelle Gould riding Foxy Fursito hot on her heels scoring 71.3%. Third place went to host club secretary Margaret Byrne riding Lyleview on Time with a score of 68.6%, whilst Valerie Crean's, second horse Samona, score of 68.1% put them into fourth place. Caroline Kelly with her two horses Black Jack and Myshall Lester secured fifth and sixth respectively.

This year a new class was introduced into the league giving Veteran horses their turn to shine too. The class saw two competitors go head to head, as Caroline Mason (Horetown) riding Benjamin took the red over Isabelle Rouviere (Carne) with her chestnut mare Banner Lucky. The Intermediate class proved very intense as just over 2% separated the first three placings, Irene Hurley (Russelstown) with her mount Emma claimed the spoils to take the red, with Michelle Paton (TT&D) riding Haughmond Midnite Xena just .7% behind to take the blue. Third place went to Isabelle Rouviere (Carne) with Banner Lucky. Host club member Patricia Fisher riding Kildrenagh Sally took fourth, whilst fifth went to Sarah Freeman (Waterford) and sixth to Hazel Burke (Ballycanew)

The final class of the day saw the Carne club take home victory as their member Melanie Hammel and her horse Taylors Slaney Cruise moved out in front on a score of 72.7% in a strong class. Caroline O'Neill (Warrington) with Miss Double Dutch followed closely behind with a score of 69.3%, taking the blue, whilst third went to Fidelma Clare (Carne) riding OK Rosie on a score of 67.9%. Fourth went to Abigail Kent (Horetown) whilst John Whelan took fifth with his mount Cookie Can for Carne. Next Sunday, 9th Feb, the league continues as Horetown host their leg at Wexford Equestrian Center

Primary

1st Test of Courage, (Sandra Doody) Coole Lane 76.6%

2nd Ardlea Indian Lady (Martin Carroll) Coole Lane 73.3%

3rd Hot Jameson (John Kearney) Barrow Valley 69.2%

4th Lord Budley (Cheryl Keogh) Coole Lane 67.8%

5th Derryvale Princess (Deirdre Deegan) Ballycanew 67.3%

6th Madame Rouge (Catriona Doran) Barrow Valley 66.6%

Young Horse

1st Rio (Lisa Mulhall) Coole Lane 67.4%

2nd Galaxy (Annmarie Finn) Horetown 63.1%

Advanced Primary

1st Kildoon Trix (Valerie Crean) Barrow Valley 71.5%

2nd Foxy Furisto (Isobelle Gould) Barrow Valley 71.3%

3rd Lyleview on Time (Margaret Byrne) Barrow Valley 68.6%

4th Samona (Valerie Crean) Barrow Valley 68.1%

5th Black Jack (Caroline Kelly) Barrow Valley 66.5%

6th Myshall Lester (Caroline Kelly) Barrow Valley 65.1%

Veteran Horse

1st Benjamin (Caroline Mason) Horetown 69.4%

2nd Banner Lucky (Isabelle Rouviere) Carne 69.1%

Intermediate

1st Emma (Irene Hurley) Russelstown 72.6%

2nd Haughmond Midnite Xena (Michelle Paton) Thomastown & District 71.9%

3rd Banner Lucky (Isabelle Rouviere) Carne 70.5%

4th Kildrenagh Sally (Patricia Fisher) Barrow Valley 68.5%

5th (Sarah Freeman) Waterford 67.3%

6th Dancing Willow (Hazel Burke) Ballycanew 67.1%

Advanced Intermediate

1st Taylor Slaney Cruise (Melanie Hammel) Carne 72.7%

2nd Miss Double Dutch (Caroline O'Neill) Warrington 69.3%

3rd OK Miss Rosie (Fidelma Clare) Carne 67.9%

4th Mr Button (Abi Kent) Horetown 65.8%

5th Cookie Can (John Whelan) Carne 65.6%