THERE was no National Hunt Festival at Punchestown this year but, last weekend, members of Eventing Ireland had the opportunity to compete at the Kildare Hunt Club’s historic venue, although at some remove from the enclosures and racetrack itself.

Returning to the Eventing Ireland schedule after a three-year break, this two-day fixture attracted the majority of the country’s top riders on Sunday for the Novice and Intermediate classes. Unfortunately, the heavy rain which had resulted in the cancellation of Tullylish the previous day had made its journey southward overnight, affecting the going.