RICHARD Harris, one of Limerick’s favourite sons, sang of ideal weather conditions in the 1967 film Camelot but things are never that easy for event organisers as Gerald Furnell, landowner and joint-cross-country course designer at Ballycahane Equestrian in the Treaty County can attest.

“We wanted rain and it threatened to arrive on Wednesdsay and Thursday but, when it didn’t, we collected the Munster Region aggravator from Ballindenisk on Friday and I spent all day Saturday on the machine to ensure safe going,” said Furnell. “Joseph Murphy was first out on the course and when he gave me a ‘thumbs up’ coming through the finish, I was happy that we had done all we could.

“Of course, the rain arrived at the wrong time – halfway through cross-country. Luckily, we had started on time (1pm) but, as we had near 200 runners to get through, some people did get a soaking. Otherwise, we had a very good day for our second affiliated event of the season and riders have appreciated the new fences we have installed this year. I’m personally very pleased that, thanks to a Horse Sport Ireland grant to Eventing Ireland, we now have the Spirafix ground anchoring system in use at every fence.

“We extended our arena here early in the year and we’ve catered for the Riding Club, Munster Dressage and show jumping since then. We’ve an unaffiliated event on August 7th but we won’t be doing too much after that for a while as Dominick (son and joint cross-country course designer) is going to be busy competing at events and the Dublin Horse Show. We are, however, going to hold the Pony Club national hunter trials championships here in September which brings us full circle as that was the first big thing we held here in April 2012.”

Trail-blazing ride

Murphy’s trail-blazing ride in the seven-runner EI115 (Open) was on the Irish Sport Horse gelding Lisanley who, on 43.8 penalties, finished sixth behind his stable-companion, the Dutch Warmblood gelding The Quizmaster who completed on his Liam Maloney-awarded dressage score (25).

Cathal Daniels led after the flat work phase with Shannondale Mari (24.6) who was then withdrawn to leave Murphy and the Count Down Crew Syndicate’s Albaran bay in the lead. The Killyleagh combination was one of two to record a double clear within the time, the other being Ian Cassells with Shanaclough Carmen who placed second on 31.8.

Just two riders completed on their dressage scores in the eight-runner EI110 (Open) as well, the narrow winner, Rodney O’Donnell with his eight-year-old OBOS Quality 004 gelding Dartans Hillcrest (33.5) and Steven Smith who finished third with Hi Happy Harry (37). The combinations were split by Lucy Latta who led after dressage on DHI Broadway but, on the chesnut’s first start in 11 months, picked up 7.6 cross-country time penalties for a total of 33.6.

Riding Newmarket Apollo (25.3), O’Donnell had to settle for second in the 35-runner EI100 where Ruby Hughes recorded a first EI success on the seven-year-old Corrado II gelding Vogel (24.3).