FORTY years ago tomorrow, give or take a day, Tom Busteed was riding at the West Waterford point-to-point in Tallow where, on board Abbey Flyer, he finished second in the opening hunt maiden, beaten three lengths by the Nicky Dee-partnered Barney Lad.

The Cork commentator still retains his competitive spirit and, for a long time last Sunday, it looked as if he was going to win the 70cms Derby Cross final at Maryville Equestrian Centre. Riding the borrowed 20-year-old chesnut gelding Laddie, Tom set an excellent time but, as at Tallow in 1978, he had to settle for the runner-up position, on this occasion behind the league winner, Christine Mendez.

Among Busteed’s other opponents in the class was his nine-year-old son Josh, here riding Appalicious who is now his Pony Club mount as his mother Audra’s Ballynoe Badger is set to be his main ride on the Under 10s show jumping circuit.

While disappointed not to win, Tom did well to be at the show at all as he was suffering from jet-lag having only arrived home the previous Friday from a 10-day holiday in Colombia.

Busteed had travelled out to the South America country to visit his elder son Des who is in his second year teaching English in Bogota.

After a couple of days in the high altitude capital, the pair flew down to the Brazilian border and travelled deep into the rainforest for five days, a trip which Tom declared to be “fantastic”.

Two days’ R&R in Cartagena was followed by a similar number sightseeing in Bogota before Busteed senior flew home through London.

Looking forward to seeing how the many horses he has broken and schooled in recent years fare at the Dublin and Cheltenham Festivals, Tom is also keen to pick up the microphone again and commentate on the eventing circuit.