Our thanks to all 15 pairs who took part in the Pre-Qualifier Trials in Templeogue over the weekend of 23/24 September, and to Brian Lawlor for doing the TD duties.
The overall winners were Niall & Ian Kilroy, who with second-place finishers Máire O’Connor & Suzanne Hill have elected to go on to compete in the Camrose Trials in Limerick over the October bank holiday weekend. The next highest-placed all-female pairings, Adrienne Purdy & Marie James and Fiona O’Gorman & Rachel Connellan, will combine to enter the Lady Milne Trials in November. Hard luck to third-place finishers Kate Daultrey & Seán Maguire, and fourth-placed Frank Davey & Pat Duff, who just missed out. Full results here.
Although we lost a few entrants at the last minute due to various emergencies, we were pleased with the turnout, which was slightly up on the previous (first) year of this event. The pre-qualifier was designed to introduce some new blood to the trials scene, and to give developing players experience of trials conditions. The reports are that all so far have enjoyed it; if next August you have more than 50 National Points, or have won more than 25 in the preceding three seasons, we’d be delighted to see you at these trials.