BEFORE they headed off to the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, Sam Watson and David Bogossian’s Tullabeg Flamenco had their final start in Ireland at the international at Kilguilkey House, where they withdrew, as planned, following the dressage phase of the CCI3*-S.

Last weekend, when some of his erstwhile rivals were back competing at the Co Cork venue, Tullabeg Flamenco was at Punchestown, where he made his debut at the Conlan Defender/Irish Pony Club National Tetrathlon Championships in the capable hands of 17-year-old Ben Buckley.