EVENT co-ordinator Dora Beacom wrote a lengthy report on the 2017 season, starting with the Baileys Horse Feeds flexi event series at The Meadows during January, February and March and ending with the annual ball in November.

She made special reference to the local organisers’ get-together in February, which was hosted by chairman Catherine Abbott, and the volunteers’ evening prior to the start of the eventing season.

Beacom thanked the landowners and sponsors and the “enormous army of volunteers who have worked in many capacities over the current series of events.

“The local organisers give tirelessly of their time in the preparation of everything on site and the many, many stewards, judges, starters, timekeepers, scorers, fence judges, etc. who turn up week after week in all kinds of weather to ensure that our competitors can enjoy their sport – we owe a lot to each and every one of you and I trust you will forgive me for not naming you all personally!”

In common with Abbott, Beacom thanked Pat and Alison at Head Office, and paid special tribute to Catherine McDowell, the new scoring team of Claire Palmer and Richard McCracken, Gillian Smyth who co-ordinates the control team, John McBride, Stuart Stirling, Denis Currie, Nicky and Richard Nesbitt and Ronnie Beggs.

She thanked commentator Peter Quirke for making the journey up from Skerries each week and also this newspaper and its reporter Margie McLoone for their coverage of northern region events. She finally thanked her good friend and aide de camp, Jean Mitchell, for her assistance.“I would like to wish everyone associated with Eventing Ireland a very successful 2018 season and I sincerely hope that, unlike last year, all of the events planned come to fruition.”