RUNNING as the sole event fixture in the country, Millstreet’s all weather acreage came up trumps again last weekend. The concept had received the definite thumbs up at its opener two weeks earlier, and boosted by the cancellation of Tyrella, the entries swelled to 180 runners. In order to cater for them, the organisers erected an extra dressage arena, and while the increased numbers stretched logistics, the event was completed only just later than scheduled at 7pm.

International course builder and designer David Evans had made several changes to the tracks to give riders new challenges, as well as some tighter angles and distances.

“We have had some very positive feedback from the first week,” commented the Oxfordshire-based man. “We are so lucky here at Millstreet, because we have the space – so the track really flows. As a result, it’s really not arena eventing – okay, it’s not like grass either, but it’s flowing with bending lines, and because it’s more technical I think the horses learn a lot more.” Interestingly, the Millstreet event gives riders a chance to accumulate their valuable MERS qualifications, whereas in England, British Eventing opted not to award riders at a similar all-weather fixture at Aston Le Walls.

“I think it’s because we have a lot more acreage here which creates a more flowing course,” added Evans. “We have a full distance, with slightly more efforts, and if this helps the sport through a difficult time – then it works.”

On the back of this success, the Duggan family are stepping into the breach again and will host another similar fixture this weekend.

Carol Gee has enjoyed many red-letter days in her career, but she was especially delighted to be connected with no less than four winners over the course of the afternoon. First up her English-born rider Xanthe Goldsack headed a competitive O/CNC*, before Fraser Duffy landed a pillar to post victory in the CNC*. The latter was particularly sweet, as Duffy partnered Fernhill Sky High, a horse owned jointly by Gee and friends Tim and Clare Corballis.

All three were present to watch this consistent mare win her first event at this level, and in a timely bonus, her success added to Tim’s birthday celebrations. Later in the day brother and sister Jenny and Brian Kuehnle boosted the Fernhill party when riding Deauville Beekhoeve and Fernhill Timbackoo, they claimed the CNCJ* and EI100P respectively.