Dressage riders brave the autumn chill at Gransha *extra photos added!*

Dressage league continues at Bangor venue

Week two of Gransha Equestrian Centre’s Autumn Dressage League got underway last weekend, with some beautiful young horses and talented young riders braving the autumn chill to showcase some lovely tests.

Again organisers are very grateful to have the support of local business ‘Cryotherapy Ireland’ as sponsor. Suzi McClean (owner) took full advantage after spraining her ankle last week. After just three sessions of Cryotherapy treatments, her ankle was back to its normal size and Suzi was back in the saddle.

Sophie Donnell looked very happy with her test riding ‘Rock Expression’ and rightly so, as they won the Senior Newcomers Prelim class at Gransha. PICTURES: courtesy of Dara McCracken

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Sisters Lucy and Katie Cochrane rode beautiful tests to take first place in the Junior Intro and Senior Intro classes. Making it a family affair, mum Rosie rode a very respectable test in the Novice Senior class.

Riding only her second ever dressage test, Aliya Miskimmon rode ‘Dave’ to take second place in the Junior Intro class. Aliya definitely got the prize for the biggest smile of the day!

Gail Barnes (‘National Pandemic’) and Susan McCutcheon (‘Major Magee’) took second and third places respectively in the Senior Intro, separated by two collective points.

Suzi McClean and ‘Simba’ won the Side Saddle class at Gransha.

The Newcomers Senior Prelim class was once again closely contested, with Sophie Donnell (‘Rock Expression’) taking the win for a second time. A score draw for second and third place went to collectives to decide and it was Amie Ross with beautiful young mare ‘Lola’, who took the second spot, with Michelle McConnell (‘Inisbri Dawn Chorus’) in third place. Ashley Paul rode well to take the fourth place, followed by Maddie Cubberley and ‘Harry’ in fifth.

The largest class of the day was the Senior Prelim class and it was Sharon Getty, who rode a lovely test on ‘Margot’ to take an exceptionally well-deserved win. Gareth McLean and ‘Simba’ were second and Annabelle Kraley with ‘Arissa’ third. Only half a point separated the next two places, with Laura McVeigh (‘Hilltop Foggey’) in fourth place and Rosie Paterson (‘Andy’) in fifth place.

Sharon Getty and ‘Margot’ won the Senior Prelim class at Gransha.

The Senior Novice class was once again hotly contested, but it was Kacey Pollock riding her beautiful young mare ‘Maisie’, who were the winners with an amazing score of 215.5 (76.96%). Kacey has done an exceptional job in producing this young mare herself and organisers look forward to seeing how this pair progress. Sarah Osborough rode another lovely test on ‘Havana’ to take the second spot, with Sarah Russell ‘PJ’ in third. Young rider Eve Lawther (‘Cream Cracker’) in her first year as a “senior” was a very well-deserved fourth. Suzi McClean took fifth place riding Butter. Rosie Cochrane balanced supporting her winning girls with her own test to place a highly respectable sixth place riding ‘Flirt’.

Sarah Osborough placed second in the Senior Novice class at Gransha with ‘Havana’.

Victoria McCandless rode a wonderful test on ‘Koolstyle’ to win the Elementary class, with Sharon McGimpsey and ‘Knockaraha Gypsy’ a close second place.

Megan Hamill’s beautiful young horse ‘Chill In The Air’ put a smile on everyone’s face in the Young Horse (four and five-year-olds) class. Organisers look forward to seeing this youngster develop – a definite star for the future!

Gransha also hosted a qualifier for the Pony Club 2025 Spring Festival, sponsored by Barrier Health. It is wonderful to see so many talented young riders starting their equestrian journey through the Pony Club.

Grace Jackson on her way to winning the Pony Club PC70 class at Gransha.

A huge thank you to the wonderful sponsor Cryotherapy Ireland, and to the judges and volunteers, who work so hard to make things run smoothly and make these events enjoyable for everyone. For more information on Cryotherapy treatments, contact Suzi via Facebook at Cryotherapy Ireland.

The next dressage qualifier at Gransha is on Saturday, November 23, followed by a Friday night qualifier on November 29.

RESULTS

Junior Intro:

1) Lucy Cochrane, Willis; 2) Aliya Miskimmon, Dave.

Senior Intro:

1) Katie Cochrane, Willis; 2) Gail Barnes, National Pandemic; 3) Susan McCutcheon, Major Magee.

Senior Newcomers Prelim:

1) Sophie Donnell, Rock Expression; 2) Amie Ross, Lola; 3) Michelle McConnell, Flo.

Senior Prelim:

1) Sharon Getty, Margot; 2) Gareth McLean, Simba; 3) Annabelle Kraly, Arissa.

Gareth McClean and ‘Simba’ were runners up in the Senior Prelim class at Gransha.

Senior Novice:

1) Kacey Pollock, Maisie; 2) Sarah Osborough, Havana; 3) Sarah Russell, PJ.

Elementary:

1) Victoria McCandless, Koolstyle; 2) Sharon McGimpsey, Chilli.

PYO:

1) Jazmin Vollands, Mo Chara Nua.

Jasmin Vollands in action at the second week of. the Autumn Dressage league at Gransha.

Young Horse:

1) Megan Hamill, Chill In The Air.

Side Saddle:

1) Suzi McLean, Simba.

Pony Club PC Novice:

1) Rachel Booth; 2) Holly Blythe.

Pony Club PC80:

1) Eve Lawther; 2) Hannah Morris.

Pony Club PC70:

1) Grace Jackson; 2) Emily Robertson; 3) Zac Hanna.

Rosie Cochrane took sixth place in the Senior Novice class at Gransha on board ‘Flirt’.

Senior Newcomer competitors at Gransha: Maddie Cubberley, Ashley Paul, Michelle McConnell, Amie Ross and Sophie Donnell.

Pony Club Barrier Spring Festival Qualifier PC70 line-up at Gransha: Eirin Wardle, Grace Jackson, Erin Gordon, Emily Robertson and Zac Hanna.

Pony Club Barrier Spring Festival Qualifier PC80 winners at Gransha: Holly Blythe and Rachel Booth.

The winning line-up in the Senior Prelim class at Gransha: Cathy Cowan, Hannah Ogle, Sharon Getty, Gareth McClean, Megan Hamill and Laura McVeigh.

Side saddle winner Suzi McClean on ‘Simba’ at Gransha.

Senior Novice winners at Gransha: Sarah Russell, Kacey Pollock, Hannah Morris, Georgie Young, Suzi McClean and Rosie Cochrane.

Senior Intro winner at Gransha: Katie Cochrane, Gail Barnes, Susan McCutcheon and Scarlett Dodd.

Elementary class winners at Gransha: Victoria McCandless and Sharon McGimpsey.