Six riders from the Donegal Gaeltacht Riding Club travelled to Ballinasloe on Sunday 19th May for the Western Region (Clare to Donegal) of the Association of Irish Riding Club’s (AIRC) qualifier for the AIRC National Dressage Championships which will be held on Sunday 18th August in Mullingar Equestrian Centre. As you begin to make the long journey down the country for a competition, you can’t help but wonder if it’s actually worth it. However, the day proved to the club that it was most definitely worth the effort!
The day kicked off for our club with the Advanced Primary riders. This was the largest class of the day with 27 entries. Rudy Schneider, Belcruit, Dungloe, and He’s a Dandy had a very impressive score of 76.47% which left them in 4th place, qualifying for the National Dressage Championships. On his second ride of the day, his own horse My Boy Boysie, he earned a score of 73.52% which left the pair in 10th place. Anne Harkin, Falcarragh, and Banshee Lady, rode their best ever test coming out with a fantastic score of 75.29% leaving them in 7th place overall. Ruth Mc Crossan, Drumcairn, Manorcunningham, brought Cut The Cuteness out from a three year sabbatical and the pony proved he’s still got it with a score of 72.35% leaving them in 11th place!
Rachael Mc Crossan, Drumcairn, was the only Intermediate rider from the club and together with her horse Batteries Not Included came out with a great score of 72.85% in this hotly contested class, leaving them in 4th place, also qualifying for the National Championships!
Tricia Warren, Dunfanaghy, (and Killult Stables), and Laura Schneider, Belcruit, Dungloe, represented the club at Open level and took the first three spots in this class. Tricia and He’s a Dandy rode to victory with a score of 81.53% (and oh my god their halt-talk about perfection!!!) and Tricia took second place on Colourado Kid with 80.38%. Laura, who is studying Veterinary Medicine at UCD had just finished her exams the day before and travelled down that morning, rode a beautiful test on Chloe Lass, coming in 3rd with a score of 77.69%.
The team of Tricia, Laura, Rudy and Anne came second in the team competition with a team average of 78.18% which means they have now qualified for the National Championships. Our second team of Tricia, Rachael, Rudy and Ruth came 4th with a team average of 75.96% and just missed out on qualifying.
Not to be outdone, club chairman Lawrence Smyth, at 71 years young, showed everyone how it was done on Jenny’s Jigsaw in the Advanced Primary show jumping, fighting off competitors from all over the region to take first place and the red ribbon back to Donegal! Tricia and Laura proved their talents do not lie solely in the dressage arena winning the Advanced Intermediate and Advanced Open show jumping respectively.
Everyone did so well down in Galway and really did the club proud! Riders were supported on the day by Emily Schneider, Tony McCrossan, Niall McCafferty, and Rosaleen Smyth. Considering that the Donegal riders were facing competiton from all over the regional, everyone placed in the top 11, really really impressive for a small club all the way from Donegal! Roll on August and the National Championships in Mullingar!