So to this years National Champion, Heike Holstein who was a young girl of 18 when she won the first ever Prix St. Georges class held in Ireland (1990) aboard Bernstein to clinch her first title. Now just a few years later, and still a young lady, Heike has 8 National Titles under her belt and Olympic Games and World Equestrian Games performances and put in a great performance at the recent European Championships to secure an individual qualification place for Ireland in Athens next year. This is quite an achievement for a country to whom "official dressage" is so new - there are nations around who have been "dressage-ing" for many many years and have a far bigger population than Ireland who have been unable to achieve an individual place for Athens, much less a team qualification.

There were three entrants in the Horseware sponsored Grand Prix class and they were Heike, Yvette Truesdale (European Chapionships Team member) and former National Champion Katy Price. Heike was first out to be the first to perform the new 2003 B Grand Prix test and Welt Adel (whose breeding was unlisted so all I can tell you is that he is known as "Tiny" at home) did a lovely test with the passage drawing appreciative gasps from the audience. The three judges, Louky van Olphen (Dutch), Hans-Joachim Eitel (Germany) and Sally Merrison (GB) were remarkably consistent wit their judging of the three competitors. Katy Price's Cabalo (another who sadly has no breeding apparently) is green at this level with his first Grand Prix test having been in May this year - his piaffe showed his inexperience but no doubt this time next year he will be a great deal more confident. Yvette Truesdale and Accolade have had a disrupted season with the gelding having been out of competition for quite a period during the summer. This shows the consistency of this horse however as he put in a "solid" display in this championship and slottedinto second place behind Heike with a score of 62.22%. Heike's winning score was 66.53%.

Lief Thornblad from Denmark judged the KK Interiors Potential Dressage Horse Final. Six horses from around the country qualified for the final and they were divided into 4 year olds and five year olds for their inspection. The finalists were asked to walk, trot and canter and show some lengthening of stride on the long side of the arena. The Judge was looking for trainability and that elusive trait called "potential". The clear winner was the qualifer from the Northern Region, Mrs Helen Troughton's 4 year old KWPN bay mare Pastiche ridden by her daughter, Kelly. This lovely filly by Cocktail Time out of Massada impressed the judge at every level and the score of 70.45% made the point. Second place went to Luke Drea and Kilkea Felix with 65.68% with third place being taken by Kelly Anne May aboard Kelsdown Melchior with 65.45%. Sunset Return and Chloe Corocoran placed fourth with 59.55%. Fifth placing went to Lynsey Craig and Beechcroft Grafton on 59.32% and Phillipa McKee and Grane Hoffman took 6th place with 58.41%. It must be remembered that these 6 horses had to go through qualifiers to get to this cmpetition and they represent the 6 very best young dressage horses in Ireland and so simply qualifying for this event is no mean feat and is and acheivement that you would be proud to have on your horses C.V!

Kelly's success with Pastiche was not to stop there however and by the time she and her mother headed home they had added the M&J Dennigan Young Horse Championship title and also the Blarney Riding Centre Preliminary Championship and it leaves no doubt in anyone's mind that this horse well deserved the title of National Potential Dressage Horse of the Year. Both Kelly and Helen were heard to say that this was a horse they were "going to keep"!

Everyone connected with these National Championships were thrilled with the excellent numbers and it is further proof that Dressage in Ireland is growing daily and the quality of horses and riders at Cavan this weekend was excellent.

Dressage ireland are innovative and determined to make an impact in Ireland and the world and with the efficiency I have seen I have no doubt that Ireland will soon be a major force in the International Stages of Dressage.

Rather than going through class by class I refer you to the Dressage Ireland web site which gives you all the nitty gritty.

We at jumpingaround.com would like to take you on our pictorial tour of the Dressage at Cavan.

above left, right and right - the all important halt!

For more photos click here

To go to page three click here

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