EQUESTRIANISM in the west of Ireland has received plenty of coverage in these pages over the past couple of weeks, and continues here with a report on the second round of the Eventing Ireland Western Region’s combined training league, which doubled as leg number two in the region of the Plusvital Spring Series.

On a beautiful spring day at Milchem Equestrian Centre in Tynagh, when the rain obliging only started falling as the competition reached its conclusion, two of Derval Diamond’s dressage winners maintained their position with clears over the Ralph Conroy-built show jumping track. Surprisingly, the home-based Duncan McFadyen was not one of these. In the 20-runner CT80, the Scottish native had to settle for second and third with Hollypark Daisy (30 penalties) and Marmaduke (31.25), who had occupied the top two spots after dressage before picking up four penalties apiece in phase two.