Sally Parkyn

THE last minute decision to run an end of season event fixture at Kilguilkey proved a popular one among the riders but was undoubtedly a logistical challenge for the indefatigable organisers Danny and Michelle Dulohery. Having dismantled the whole site after the last event, Dulohery was already well into the process of designing and building his new tracks for next year.

“We had taken down and put away everything but then a few riders approached me requesting a late season advanced class,” he explained. “It was hard work as much was under construction but it was not an impossibility to run again.”

In the end, Dulohery pulled out all the stops, and running his tracks in the reverse direction from those used earlier in the year, he delivered riders with a fair but technical end of season test. “We allowed for the fact that some of the younger horses may not have been as fit as some of the older ones,” he added. “However, the three-star was a busy track – and one that had been designed with the view that many were using it for qualification purposes.”

As this is quite definitely the final date for 2015, the Kilguilkey team are now busy planning for next year’s international fixture which will be held over the first weekend in July. “We will have three new tracks in place,” revealed Dulohery. “Mike (Etherington - Smith) has already been over twice and we are all very excited. Looking back on this year however, I really have to thank all our helpers and volunteers for their tireless efforts this season and also to Eventing Ireland who give us massive support.”

In a fitting end to the calendar at the venue, three free entries for 2016 were entered into a draw for those who competed in Sunday’s fixture. Boekelo star, and man of the moment, Cathal Daniels did the honours and to great applause picked his own name first, followed by Claire O’Rourke and Felicity Ward.