DENIS Currie, who had been supporting his grandson Isaac McCarthy at The Pony Club championships in England the previous weekend, would have been in two minds about Jean Mitchell’s return to judging duties at Loughanmore last Saturday.

As pleased as he was with her surprise appearance, he may not have been that happy with his dressage score (33.3 penalties), which left him lying fourth of the six starters in the EI110 (Amateur). However, he recorded the only double clear - and inside the time at that - to land his sixth win of the season on the 16-year-old Lancelot gelding Merlot, with whom he was placed on his other four outings.