EVEN if the Vesey Lodge one-day event had gone ahead last Saturday, regular Northern Region commentator Peter Quirke would not have been able to attend as he had been nabbed by daughter Joanne for two days’ duty at the National Horse and Pony Championship Show at Killossery Lodge Stud.

Among the many announcements Peter made on Saturday afternoon was the good news that show horse rider, producer and judge, Shane McKenna, had been released from the University Hospital Waterford where he had spent the previous six days following a fall at the Glandoran Island Summer Show.

Delighted with his wins in the heavyweight and ridden Irish Draught classes with showing newcomer Mongorry Cormac, Shane was taking part in the championship on the Gortfree Lakeside Lad five-year-old when his day in Co Wexford came to a painful end.

“Cormac just lost his footing in the gallop,” explained Fethard-based McKenna. “My saddle slipped to the right and when I tried to straighten it to the left, it slipped completely and off I came, landing straight down on my left leg. Everyone in the ring and at the show looked after me really well, as they did in the hospital, but I’m going to be out of action for a long time.”

Shane shattered the talus bone connecting his foot to his leg and reports his surgeon, Professor Ruairí Mac Niocaill, “a horsey man”, describing the break as one of the messiest he had seen in years. “A lot of nuts, wire and bolts are now holding everything together,” commented Shane. “Am told I should be back walking by January but I hope to be on my feet well before then.”

Shane had 14 horses riding out at the time of his accident and while some have gone home to their owners, others remain in and are being looked after by a number of the rider’s good friends.

On Saturday, his father Sean brought two horses to Killossery Lodge Stud where Ciara Mullen took over on Baskin Kapuka while Chloe Lacey rode Manderlay. Both horses will be kept in work as they are being aimed at Balmoral.