Mayo equestrian athletes secure golden tickets to RDS Horse Show

AN incredible five equestrian athletes from the Claremorris area have secured their golden tickets for the RDS Horse Show 2026.

The RDS is the pinnacle of Irish showjumping calendar with competitors competing in gruelling qualification stages to secure very limited and sought after 'golden tickets'.

Grace Mellett will be competing in the 128cm category after winning the qualifier in Barndown. She will be riding seven-year-old stallion Bronheulog Ruben, who is owned by the Costello family in Galway.

Her pony is no stranger to success having placed second in the RDS 2025.

Mark Mellett will be joining his sister, Grace, in the young rider contest having put on an impressive display in the last qualifier in Cavan just three weeks ago. A testament to the hard work of the Mellett family to have two children taking part.

Ellen Ryan lives just minutes from the Mellett family and she was lucky enough to secure her place at the first qualifier in May. She will be competing in the 148cm, 6/7 year old class.

A truly incredible achievement made only sweeter by the fact that her pony, Cuckoo of farmhill, is owned and bred by her grandfather, well known veterinary surgeon John Dixon.

Travel two minutes down the road and you will reach Stephen Gibbons who has impressively qualified three horses for the RDS. Stephen is no stranger to success and his consistency in qualifying for the RDS each year shows the talent this young man has.

On the other side of Claremorris, Shane Goggins is also an exceptionally talented athlete who has secured his spot on board Aganusha Kay 11, who is owned by Claremorris natives Charles and Cormac Hanley.