ANYONE travelling to Glaslough from the north and east of the country last Saturday couldn’t believe how dry the roads were within a 10-mile radius of the Co Monaghan venue which was hosting its first Eventing Ireland one-day of the summer.

“We had about two hours’ rain yesterday evening but that was it,” reported Caroline McQuillan, event secretary on the day with her sister, Rosemary Bellew. They repeated that comment quite a lot during the morning as riders called in to the office to collect their numbers when they were also informed of the change to the start of the cross-country course.

This commenced in front of John and Geraldine Bellew’s house with riders no longer crossing the avenue in competition. The required length of course was obtained by traversing the hill twice before the finish. Cross-country course designer Adam Stevenson introduced a new water complex named the Parish Splash which reflects its position in the dressage field across the road from the local Church. This had a variety of portable skinnies and rollers in and out for the three levels catered for at the event and caused problems throughout the afternoon.

The fence steward at the Parish Splash was Eventing Ireland’s vice-chairman, Georgia Stubington, who posted a lengthy comment on her observations to her Facebook page the following day. Referencing speed of approach, what to do and what not to do when you have a refusal, it’s well worth a read.

Stubington’s remarks could also have applied at the first water but in no way reflect the well-balanced approach of Cathal Daniels on Charlie By Chance in Section B of the EI100 as the seven-year-old just didn’t put any landing gear down, giving himself a shower and his rider a good ducking.

Leading his mount

Quickly leading his mount out of the water, Daniels wasted little time in being back at the fence going clear on his third ride at this level, his fifth on the day.

The rider’s superb win on Rioghan Rua at Bramham the previous weekend was referred to during the afternoon by commentators Paul Nolan and Declan Cullen who also regularly reminded all present that there was to be a Go-As-You-Please over the three tracks on Sunday and that a second EI one-day would be hosted by the Bellew family on Saturday, July 6th.

Cullen was accompanied to the event by Indian team rider Colonel Amit Sinsinwar who is training for a week with Cullen and his wife Becky in Gilford. Colonel Sinsinwar was among the near 50 riders who attended the Go-As-You-Please where he went around the EI110 track on Glenhill Gold.