Hunting book reprinted

WELL done to renowned hunting photograher Catherine Power who collected from the printers this week the third reprint of her hit book, Memoirs of a Foxhunting Photographer, launched last November. This book is a smashing read and is packed from start to finish with wonderful photographs of packs nationwide. Email: catherinepower@eircom.net

Brilliant Bill

MANY thanks to Dermot MacDermott who got in touch with us after reading Roisin Sheridan’s great future last week on the Army Equitation School.

Dermot related the story of how the late Bill Steinkraus, who died last year at the ripe age of 92, visited the Dublin Horse Show on his way home from the 1952 Helsinki Olympic Games.

As the American team horses were in transit home from Helsinki, Bill achieved his first international win riding the horse Baldoyle which he had borrowed from the Irish Army Equitation School. The win was a shared first place with Lt.Col. Harry Llewellyn. In the competition the two riders had twice tied against the clock which was, at that time, only measured in tenths of seconds and so it was decided to divide first place.

Subsequently Bill was instrumental in getting the move to timing competitions in hundredths of seconds when he sourced stop watches with this ability. However it took some years before changes took place.

Steinkraus was one of the world’s finest horsemen and Olympic individual gold medallist at the 1968 Mexico Olympic Games.

If the coat fits...

SHEPPARD’S in Durrow, Co Laois auctioned off four smart hunting coats this week with green collars, one appearing to be an evening tail coat. Hammer prices ranged from €60-110. Surely a great bargain as long as there are no moth holes!

Charity hunt

MANY thanks to all who supported the Monasterevin Charity Hunt last Sunday. It was fun-filled event with plenty of horses, cobs and ponies out enjoying the countryside.