WE don’t know if the Glynn family were expecting such a comparison for their ‘pilot’ mini one-day event held at Killossery Lodge Stud last Sunday but former amateur jockey Andrew Coonan, who was last to compete in the 85cms class, likened the new format to “riding in the bumper at an evening meeting”.

The Co Kildare solicitor and his home-bred five-year-old Puissance gelding were not only the final combination to be judged, on grass, by Jane Whitaker but also ended up with her winning score. They went on to quickly show jump on sand and go cross-country in the Killossery Lodge schooling area.

“I love this new style eventing!” said Andrew, who expects to be soon ousted as rider of the bay. “I only arrived at 4pm, was last to go and was gone before 6pm.” Coonan rewarded himself for his great display in the dressage phase by taking a couple of days’ holiday in Co Clare to perfect his surfing technique.

While Killossery Lodge Stud is not listed to stage any EI ODEs this season, there is plenty of action to look forward to with ‘Jump For Cash’ leagues in both show jumping and eventing scheduled throughout this month and in August.