ALL classes at the Festival are competitive but those for teams are even more so. In the dressage section, which is sponsored over the two days by The Irish Field, Sunday’s team challenge is always closely fought and this year’s winners, Tara Hill, had to hold off a strong bid from one of the newest clubs in the country, Ard Lu.

The latter are members of the North East Region of the AIRC which has dominated this event since its inception so the Tara Hill quartet were delighted not only to win for themselves and their club but also for the Midlands Region. I am indebted to Edel King who told me all about her fellow team members and their horses.