WITH the Ryan family of Scarteen taking themselves off to the three-star event at Plantation Field in Pennsylvania for the weekend, the role of cross-country commentator at Lisgarvan last Sunday was filled by Gerald Bloomer.

“I’ve commentated on the show jumping in Camphire but this is my first time to cover an event,” said the Co Wicklow rider and level three coach who, with an entry of close to 300, had a long day with the microphone. He did an excellent job.

As he had to be in position for the scheduled noon start of the cross-country phase, Gerald inspected the course a lot faster than this paper’s reporter Margie McLoone whose tour of the Corrigan family’s Co Carlow farm brought her along the headlands where she met others feasting themselves on blackberries!