IRISH international event rider Tim Bourke and his wife of just over 12 months, US-born Marley Stone, are looking forward to Christmas and the New Year more than most as they have recently purchased a house and farm in the middle of Virginia horse country.

“We had the opportunity to buy 70 acres near Berryville and are really excited about starting Bourke Eventing,” revealed the 29-year-old Westport native. “It’s a great location as many events are close by. We plan to continue importing horses from Ireland both to bring up the levels ourselves and as sales prospects. We are currently offering openings for horses in training, lessons and sales.”

Tim has been working with Sharon White and will continue to do so, alternating between Stone’s Throw and Sharon’s Last Frontier Farm for teaching duties.

Chief among the horses on the farm are Tim’s four-star nine-year-old OBOS Quality 004 gelding Luckaun Quality and Marley’s two-star ride Kilrodan Ambassador, a seven-year-old by Boherdeal Clover who they sourced through Bourke’s main mentor John Craig.

Although pleased to branch out on his own, Tim will continue to teach at the Last Frontier Farm of Sharon White whom he joined in 2008.

Tim competed in his first CCI**** at Rolex this year and most recently picked up a top-15 finish in the CCI*** at Fair Hill with Luckaun Quality. Tim also has several horses in training which he competed throughout 2014.

Marley and her partner, Kilrodan Ambassador, have moved up through the levels together and finished their year with a successful move up to Intermediate and CIC** level.