South Munster Dressage at Skevanish
Skevanish 14.11.2010
On Sunday, 14 November Frank and Gillian O'Sullivan welcomed South Munster Dressage to their Skevanish Equestrian Centre, Innishannon, County Cork. Spectators and competitors alike enjoyed the friendly atmosphere of the busy show, with tests running until near sunset on this cold, but mercifully dry, day.
First up in the hot seat was Shota Niikura, who judged the Preliminary classes. As always, this level saw the largest number of entries.
Gabi Keller had a good day out with her 7 year old grey Irish-bred gelding Kilcolta Moses, winning the registered section in Class 1 (test BD 7) with 61.5% and second place in Class 2 (test BD 18), where top honours went to Jacqueline Walsh and her Irish bred mare Kilkeany Clover.
Stephanie Marwood (Dicey Riley) and Cara McSweeney (Dante) took it in turns in the Junior section, Stephanie taking first in Class 1 and second in Class 2, while the Cara improved her second place in Class 1 to claim the red rosette for Class 2.
Judith Gibney (Nikita 103) claimed the top spot in the large unregistered section in Class 1, while event rider Zora Feurer and Caherdaniel Buzz won Class 2.
Feurer continued to add to her collection of rosettes in the Registered sections of Class 3 (Novice test BD 20) picking up third (with Mealagh Chaplin) and fourth (with Mealagh Orion), and in Class 4 (Novice test BD 30), placing third (Mealagh Orion) and fifth (Mealagh Chaplin).
Michelle Marshall and her 10 year old Irish bred bay gelding Grove Wilson emerged victorious in Class 3, gaining a respectable 65.2% from Judge Ninnie Odenrick, with Deborah Guerin and the Ard Allez Cat son Twinfort Mr. Freeze taking second place.
While event rider Anna Dangerfield and the Irish bred coloured stallion Kileatin Top Cat (by Victory Plan) impressed the judge sufficiently to earn 66.53%, this was not enough to catch Laura Hagger and Motown, whose impressive score of 70% won Class 4. The same two combinations battled it out for the top spots in Class 6 (Elementary Test BD 50), with Hagger and Motown emerging victorious once again on 65%, their greater experience at this level giving them the edge. Still, Dangerfield and Kileatin Top Cat, making their debut at Elementary level, achieved at qualifying score of 62.14%, leaving them no reason to be disappointed. Aileen O'Mahoney and Mealagh Moondance competed unopposed in the Junior sections of Classes 3 and 4, but acquitted themselves with honour, posting the highest score in the former Class (68%) and scoring a respectable 65% in the latter.
Angela Lyons and the Dutch-bred coloured gelding (by Voltaire) Latino J also made a favourable impression on judge Ninnie Odenrick, scoring 67.24% in the Medium Class and 64.84% in the Advanced Medium.
Stephanie May and her pony Polo performed their Preliminary Freestyle and were awarded 73.88% by judge Christine Macauley.
In the Junior Trailblazers, Robert O'Brien continued his winning ways with Mealagh Orion, adding another red rosette to the one picked up at the last South Munster Dressage show at Cashelane Stud. Kim Fitzgerald and Polkadot Princess took home the blue rosette. Tadgh Quill Manley (Telynan Bolshoi) and Tara Quill Manley (Althaea) contested the Mini Trailblazers.
The next South Munster dressage Show will be held on 28 November and will take place in Skevanish and not in Middleton as previously advertised.