HAD he been at a deluge-hit Killossery Lodge Stud on Saturday, commentator Chris Ryan might easily have crooned the lyrics ‘What a difference a day makes,’ when, 24 little hours later, conditions were ideal for the start of cross-country at Ballycahane, Crecora.

In fact, they were perfect all day, the heavy showers which hit the country on Saturday having visited the south-west first, had moved away quickly. This allowed the rain soak into the ground and the plentiful grass dry out well in time for the opening dressage tests of the day.

Sunday’s event, the first of two full Eventing Ireland one-days at the Furnell family’s mixed farm, was sponsored by the nearby Limerick Racecourse where a classic car show was taking place – as it had been 12 months ago. That gathering would have been a bit noisy for many at Ballycahane who were happy to sit out and relax in the sun when not actually competing.

While the pre-novice and training cross-country courses followed the same route as last year, the two and one-star tracks also turned right-handed in the second field, instead of going straight on as before. Competitors thus tackled the rolltops at three and the following keyhole to chicken hut before heading to the ditch and log near the house.

Course designers Gerald and Dominic Furnell, who had the track well aerated, then sent the two and one-star runners uphill over the regular Trakehner and a table to an oxer at eight into a new field.

Here, they jumped three fences around the headland which brought them back to the ‘eyebrow’ at 12 and the usual path home.

Show jumping for the higher graded classes took place near the entrance where more than a few competitors fell for course builder Kevin Bartley’s ploy in enticing them to go wide on turns when the time said otherwise.

However, when it came to the final show jumping phase in the eight-runner CNC2*, it was the fences not the time which proved decisive as not a single clear round was recorded.

Last to jump, northern raider Jim Newsam had the white vertical at three down on Dunrath Wellington but, on a total of 32.6, was left ahead of Paul Donovan whose mount Sportsfield Pretty Lady had lowered the oxers at one and four B to complete on 35.7.

Newsam’s trip south was further rewarded when he finished third with the thoroughbred Kilcooley Michael (37.9) who took out the vertical at four A.

Katie Prowse and Kilcoltrim Kit Kat, the marginal leaders after dressage on 27.3, picked up a dozen show jumping penalties as did Steven Smith with Swift Edition who went into the final phase on his flat work mark of 28.2.

None of the eight had a problem in jumping the two-star cross-country track.

DELIGHTED

“I am delighted for the horse,” said Newsam of the nine-year-old Dunrath Wellington, who was previously ridden by Robbie Collins.

“I only bought him a few weeks ago for Carole Hawthorne and we had our first two-star outing at Punchestown last weekend. Because of Badminton, I wasn’t able to do a lot with him which is why we came here and we had an ideal spin around a lovely track.

“He will do a couple more intermediates and his first major target will be the CCI2* at Camphire.

“Carole, who unfortunately wasn’t here today, is a long-standing owner of mine. She used to own the good mare Tullybee Holly Go Lightly, a full-sister to Magennis, and also owns the Puissance five-year-old Tullybee Renegade who was sixth on his first start in today’s EI100.”

Steven Smith got a right soaking at Killossery after which he drove straight down to Crecora but his efforts paid off when he finished first and second on his dressage scores in the O/CNC2* with The Wolf Man (31.1) and Rio (31.8) respectively.

Fred Fench’s winner, a 10-year-old black gelding by Cavalier Two For Joy who spent over a year on the sidelines, is on course to run in the international at Kilguilkey House next month.

Smith was making his first public appearance on Robert Suffern’s Rio and it was good to see 12-year-old grey going so well for his new rider.

Alison Holden held a commanding lead after dressage with O My Balladeer (26.4) but the 10-year-old My O My gelding suddenly spooked at something when turned towards the ditch to log at five.

He jammed on the brakes, whirled around and left his rider on her feet beside him.