Carr, O'Grady, Acres, Oliver, Klatzko, Rawlins and Mellor Win FEI Titles at 2021 Irish Dressage Championship

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2021 Irish Dressage Championships

Pony rider Rachel Carr, small tour riders Laragh O'Grady, Kevin Acres and Tara Oliver, and senior big tour riders Sorrel Klatzko, Dane Rawlins and Carolyn Mellor won the FEI level champion's title at the 2021 Dressage Ireland National Championships. The Nationals were held on 24 - 26 September 2021 at Barnadown Stud in Gorey, Co. Wexford.

The event included classes from preliminary to elite Grand Prix level and includes FEI level championships for pony riders as well as the National Young Dressage Horse Championships and a para championship.

Pony Title for Rachel Carr

Six combinations contested the Irish FEI dressage pony championships, which consisted of two rounds: the team and individual test.

In her last year on ponies, the 16-year old Rachel Carr and her 15-year old Welsh pony Calelvador May Blossom (by Cirrus x Minsterley Captain) grabbed the gold with a score average of 69.35% after posting winning scores of 69.86% and 68.85% in both rounds. The silver medal went to Cillian Curran aboard his 16-year old Dutch bred Welsh pony Blokland's Hoeve's Amor (by Orchard Boginov x Leuns Veld's Lord) who averaged 68.32%, while the bronze went to Jessica Grogan on the 6-year old dun coloured Dutch Welsh pony mare Klein Roderijs Gold Fee (by Veenstra's Grapjas x Heitrak's Marvin) on an average of 67.44%

Carr also won the separate Freestyle championship, scoring 73.81%, while Curran was second with 70.50% and Grogan third on 68.00%

Small Tour Glory

Three small tour championships were on the board for the 2021 Irish Nationals, a Prix St Georges Championship, Intermediaire I, and Prix St Georges freestyle class.

Eleven pairs competed in the Prix St Georges judged by Mary Anne Horn and Alison Duck and Laragh O'Grady bested the field on a score of 67.35%. She saddled the 10-year old Irish Sport Horse bred Mullentine Emerald Wolfe Tone (by Jaguar Mail x Cruising) and referred the 17-year old junior rider Sive Kearney on her 16-year old Hanoverian bred Rob Roy (by Rubin Cortes x Graf Remus) to a second place with 66.84%. Sean Burgess and the 15-year old British Hanoverian bred Imperioso WW (by Walentino) posted 65.22% for third place.

In the Intermediaire I the field got reshuffled with Kevin Acres aboard his 10-year old KWPN gelding Ganesh (by Jazz x Partout) popping up at the top of the board on 69.49%. The PSG champion, Laragh O'Grady, collected a silver with 67.35%, while Louise Doheny and Angel D bagged bronze on a score of 65.66%.

In the Prix St Georges freestyle, seven riders battled it out and the class was won by Tara Oliver aboard her 10-year old Hanoverian Woodcroft Furst Romance (by Furst Romancier x His Highness) with 69.13%. Sean Burgess and Imperioso WW were the runner-up with 66.25%, followed by Kearney on Rob Roy with 65.19%.

Big Tour Titles for Klatzko, Rawlins, and Mellor

At senior Grand Prix level three championships were held. One for the Intermediaire II, one for the Grand Prix test, and a freestyle championship.

Sorrell Klatzko, who just spent the summer on the continent training with Irish team trainer Johann Hinnemann in Voerde, Germany, won the Intermediaire II class aboard her 8-year old Westfalian gelding Turbo (by Totilas). In a field of four competitors, she scored 69.18% and edged out Josephine Delahoyde aboard the 17-year old Holsteiner bred Lets Go (by Limbus x Caletto I) on 65.37%.

The British based Dane Rawlins crossed the sea to compete in the Dressage Ireland National Championships and the effort was worth it. In a class of five riders judged Mary Anne Horn and Sarah Leitch, Rawlins and his 12-year old Westfalian Espoire (by Ehrenmann x Krack C) topped the board on a 69.13% score. He referred Inter II champion Sorrell Klatzko on Turbo, who finished second with 67.77%. Third place went to European Championship debutant Carolyn Mellor aboard her 10-year old KWPN bred Gouverneur M (by Voice x Jacardo) on 66.85%.

In the Grand Prix Kur to Music it was Mellor's turn for highest honour, acing the freestyle on Gouverneur M with 71.19%. Rawlins and Espoire were second with 68.81% and Klatzko slotted in third with 68.25%