THERE was a massive entry of 300 combinations at Rosanna on bank holiday Monday resulting in around 60 volunteers putting in a very long day at the Ashford venue.

Like all others dealing with the land in this extended period of cold and rain, course designer Luke Drea and landowner/course builder John Wilding have had to deal with inclement weather and poor ground conditions. However, as they bid to improve the course with each event, they managed to construct new fences at the first avenue crossing which jumped far better than many imagined.

Most of the timber used in the fences came from windfalls on the estate while the reeds used to top obstacles were also sourced locally. As well as fence stewards, Rosanna needs volunteers for two road crossings and will need at least one more next year where horses come into the cross-country start area, particularly if the weather is good.

“We did get one heavy hail shower during the early afternoon but otherwise it was a very pleasant day,” commented Drea. “This can lead to its own problems as, it was so nice, that many people from the village came to watch what was happening and weren’t aware of horses starting or galloping elsewhere on the course. It was great to see them however as it added to the atmosphere.”

The revised lay-out for dressage was well received by competitors in the one and two-star classes whose three impressive arenas were erected to the right of the entrance gate while the remainder were still down on the lower part of the farm, close to the M11.

“I was very pleased with how the day went,” said Drea, “and so too was our landowner. We finished up around 7pm which was 25 minutes ahead of schedule. It takes a lot of work to get everything right with such a short period of time between events and we might have to consider only running once next year. Saying that, I think the ground was the best we’ve had so far.

“I was delighted with how the new fences rode with just two horses having to be re-presented at the skinnier elements of fence five. John had to build three tracks last season and this year concentrated on the two-star course. It’s a matter improving things up year on year.”

There were a few glance-offs at the Rhinestone brush corners at 17ab on the intermediate track. At novice level, the main problems arose on the latter half of the course particularly at fence 20, a skinny, on an angled related distance from the McDonnell Properties cottage at 19. Many of those who went unpenalised here took one of two long routes between the obstacles, particularly combinations seeking qualification for Tattersalls.

Joanne Corish, from Bridgetown, Co Wexford, had a bit of hairy moment jumping the skinny log third element of the Fox’s Avenue at five in the CNC** class with Shuil Coillte. However, with the addition of just eight time penalties, she was easily fastest of her section on the former successful point-to-pointer and, recording one of just five show jumping clears, won on a total of 40.3.

“He’s a really clever horse, just brilliant and I love him to bits!” enthused 17-year-old Corish. “He had only one Eventing Ireland outing last year as I was really concentrating on my younger horse, Willows Dark Stranger. This year, as I’m doing my Leaving, it’s easier to ride Shuil Coillte who had one two-star start back in 2014.

“Although my exams will be starting the following week, I plan on doing the Juniors at Tattersalls and, after that, as I’m still a bit young, I would like to take a year out doing horses before going to University. I suppose the time here was tight enough as the first part of the course was quite twisty but it was a nice track, if a bit technical in places.”

Shuil Coillte, who is owned by the rider’s father Tom and won the CNCJ* class at Rosanna (1), is a 15-year-old bay gelding by Woods Of Windsor out of the Buckskin mare Petrea’s Birthday. He is a half-brother to Uimhiraceathair (by Old Vic) whose five wins for the Willie Mullins yard included a Grade 2 hurdle at Fairyhouse.

As is to be expected, the advanced horses skipped around the track in the O/CNC**. None were asked to beat the clock across the country with the winner, Horsewell Lukeswell (Sam Watson) picking up 12 time penalties for a completion score of 42.2. Lowering the oxer at three in the show jumping ring proved costly for the same rider’s Imperial Sky, the leader after dressage on 25.9, who posted a three-phase total of 44.3.

It was a good day for the Watson family as Sam’s wife Hannah (Sparkles) won the very competitive 26-runner Tredstep Ireland EI 100 amateur class with Kings Fionn.