THE second of the season’s Eventing Ireland one-days at Grove last Sunday marked Peter Ponsonby’s last public appearance as a cross-country fence builder.

“I’ve been at this game for 31 years and at Grove for 10,” revealed Peter. “I’ve laid down my chainsaw for the final time and am looking forward to spending more time as an FEI technical delegate and steward.”

The former course builder hopes to travel far and wide for the FEI but doubts that he will come across a car trying to jump a fence as happened at the Tipperary Pony Club’s eventing qualifier at Grove in July. As a tribute to that memorable occasion, on Sunday the fence was named the SEAT ditch!

Going around in their RTV, Peter and fellow course builder Graham Boyd were able to outrun the webs and money spiders which assaulted the rest of us including the stationary Clare Ryan, who had a long day as cross-country commentator.

Clare was delighted to get out on her horse on Monday and glanced in on the gallops at Ballydoyle where, of course, the first three home in Sunday’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe are trained. The trio are all by the wonder stallion Galileo who stands at Coolmore, sponsors of the leading mare prize in three of the classes at Grove.