FOLLOWING the tragic events of the previous week, the sport of eventing resumed at Grove last Wednesday. A late arranged fixture, the popular venue attracted only about half of its usual bumper entry, and indeed the beautiful park at Grove looked strangely empty.

That said, host and organiser Rosemary Ponsonby and her loyal team led by Sean Brett staged eight competitive classes, and will look forward to running at full capacity in the autumn.

The courses themselves, which were designed by Allen and Paul Brady were, according to multiple winner Fraser Duffy, “the best I have ridden around at a national event this season – and by a long shot. They were technical without being punishing and were a pleasure to run over.”

As expected, and following this long dry spell, the underfoot conditions were on the firm side, but with great grass cover and additional aerovating, the sting was definitely removed.

Unfortunately, there was an incident in one of the EI 110 sectors, when leaders Amanda Goldsbury and PLS Coconuts took a heavy fall at the rail and brush at the third. At the time of writing Amanda is in hospital in Waterford and we wish her well.

While the atmosphere was a little subdued, there was a plethora of yellow ribbons and colours, among everyone present. Worn in Tiggy Hancock’s memory, they brought brightness and fond memories to an otherwise rather overcast day.

EI 115

Racking up his eighth win of the current campaign Ian Cassells dominated the six strong EI 115 (O) from the outset. Teaming up with Woodendfarm Jack O D, for whom this was a second seasonal victory from just two runs, he opened on 28.9 and, despite the addition of 12.8 penalties in the country, was never headed.

Coming close, the speedier Johnathan Steele with Centre Stage ricocheted up the leaderboard to fill second, from Alyssa O’Neill (Colacentric) in third.

Owned and bred by long standing supporters Noel and Nuala Prendergast, the winning son of Jack of Diamonds has been with Cassells since a four-year-old, and is out of the couple’s Woodend Ard Hill, a sister to Cassell’s junior European mount Woodend Garfield.

“This was a great prep for Kilguilkey (CCI3*-L) next week, and it certainly wasn’t a track you could just hack around,” said Cassells.

Indeed, one who missed out when poised to challenge was Gillian Beale-King, who in an opening second spot, was so unlucky to have a fall on the flat with RCA Royal Mist, when just three fences from home.

Fraser Duffy landed the first leg of his Grove double, when posting a comfortable win in the restricted division. Riding Carol Gee’s recent Crecora victor LCC King Julian, a gelding sourced from Daisy Duggan last autumn, Duffy held the lead from the get-go.

He increased the margin by posting the fastest time in the country, and with a fence in hand, completed ahead of Heather O’Connor (HSH Has It All) and Ian Cassells with Millridge Atlantis.

“Couldn’t be more delighted with him,” said Duffy of the eight-year-old son of Clinton. He scorched around the country, taking every stride as it came.”

While this pairing is another to be fancied at Kilguilkey next week, the longer-term goal is the eight/nine-year-old showcase at Blenheim in the autumn.

Patrick Byrne and Boleys Maximus took a fall after hitting the third fence hard, although the cross-country proved no problem for the remaining 11 starters.