Byrne gave a wonderful account of the team’s gold medal-winning performance at Haras de Jardy last September.

Paying tribute to team veterinary surgeon Will Lalor, dressage and cross-country coach Terry Boon, show jumping coach Ian Fearon, team sponsors and, of course, the riders and their parents, Byrne gave a synopsis of the championship, employing quotes from the late Nelson Mandela and photographs taken during the event.

The AGM was held in the La Mon Hotel & Country Club, Castlereagh, venue also in late November of the region’s awards ball which, thanks to the efforts of regional secretary Dora Beacom and her hard-working team, raised valuable funds.

The region’s finances were brought to the fore in his treasurer’s report by John McBride, who said it had been a poor year in monetary terms with each of the one-day events losing money.

In her report, regional chairperson Catherine Abbott put the event losses down to a lack of support from southern competitors who were staying closer to home because of the high cost of travel.

She welcomed the return to the calendar of the events at Knockany and Maddybenny, the addition to the fixture list of the Megahey family’s Glenpatrick event and the fact that the Buller family’s event at Scarvagh had, much deservedly, been voted the best national event of 2013 by members of Eventing Ireland.

Abbott went on to praise regional members who had represented Ireland internationally, including junior team member Harold Megahey and individual Susie Berry, Holly Wray who competed at the pony Europeans and senior squad members Clare Abbott, Jim Newsam and Joseph Murphy.

The last-named, along with Johnny Hagan, remain as senior riders’ representatives on the regional committee whose numbers were boosted by the nomination of Sharon Riddell.

Commenting on the losses incurred by events, Jean Mitchell stressed the importance of maintaining the high quality expected in the region. She also referred to the fact that eventing has being taking place in the Northern Region since 1961 and revealed that a celebratory evening is to be held in early June.

Jean requested that people supply the committee with any old programmes and photographs from the past. “I hope it will be a really special evening,” stated Mitchell, “as I certainly won’t be here for the next one!”

Towards the end of the AGM, three presentations were made, starting with the John Martin award which goes to a person who contributes to the advancement and promotion of eventing. The trophy was presented by John’s widow Christine to John McBride.

Caroline Keatley, daughter of the late James Pooler, presented the Pooler trophy for best international performance to Harold Megahey, while Margie McLoone, freelance reporter with The Irish Field was presented with the Stinson trophy (for someone who contributes to the sport by effort, endeavour and example) by the late Jack Stinson’s niece Helen Pannell.

Competitive action returns to the Northern Region today as The Meadows Equestrian Centre in Lurgan hosts the first leg of the flexi eventing series which continues each Saturday until February 22nd. A training day for fence judges and officials has been scheduled for February 17th, while a date has to be fixed for a meeting of local organisers.