The second in this series of Style classes for Young Riders saw a reduction in numbers but no reduction in quality which is super.

This week at Kernan Equestrian Centre in Crossmaglen there were 11 entries for the class with Nicola FitzGibbon and Conor Drain presenting two horses for the Judges assessment.

This weeks Judges saw Liam Buckley again step up to the pitch and he was joined by equestrian journalist and Grand Prix Showjumper, Tara Dunne.

Tara Dunne - pictured right - jumps off her horse for the Grand Prix to being the Judge for the up and coming riders.

First to go in the class was Nicola FitzGibbon on her new mount the chestnut gelding Looping Star and they jumped a lovely round with all fences in place as they came through the finish flags for 7.8 from the judges.

Second out was Conor Drain and FIne Filly and todays round was nice with the mare perhaps a little heady -

which could have been due to the tightness of the indoor arena. They jumped clear and were awarded 7.5 today.

Third out was Sara Coyle and My Lord and the horse was a little fresh today and lowered two fences leavin ger out of the placings in this class.

Deena Martin and her newly aquired Lord Cromwell (formerley ridden by Catherine Thornton) jumped clear but perhaps a little individually to score well today gaining 6.9 from the judges.

Tom Hearn and Cavalier Z decided to retire when things just didn't go according to plan at the double at fence 6.

Kerry Saunders and Lenamore Dell Boy lowered the first part of the double at fence 6 and finished after deductions with a score of 7 today.

Aisling Doherty and Jessie Duke had a bad start to the class when the first fence fell and was followed by the first part of the double at fence 6. They finished with a score of 6.5 after the deductions for fences down.

Laura Brown and Aaron didn't score well today when they had a fence down and a refusal.

Edward Doyle Jnr and Wingates King Koal again put in a very classy performance leaving all fences up and looking neat for a judges score of 8.

Nicola FitzGibbon returned for her second time this time riding Jumpingaround Dotcom for a lovely clear round, with this combination getting to know each other better each time in the ring and today they scored 8.1 from the judges.

Last to go and also taking his second trip around, this time riding Tripoli and they snatched the lead from Nicola when the judges awarded them 8.5.

The course today was the first 8 fences of the earlier Grand Prix class and began with a triple bar, to a vertical, which caused so many problems in the Grand Prix but did not cause so many issues for these young riders. The course included the liverpool at fence 7 to a maximum height and width oxer at fence 8.

The final placings:

1st - Conor Drain - Tripoli
2nd - Nicola FitzGibbon and Jumpingaround Dotcom
3rd - Edward Doyle Jnr and Windgates King Koal
4th - Nicola FitzGibbon and Looping Star
5th - Conor Drain and Fine Filly
6th - Kerry Saunders and Lenamore Dell Boy

Next weeks Guidam will be held at Millstreet as wil lthe Orchard Equestrian Young Rider Style class.