THE Northern Region of Eventing Ireland commenced their summer/autumn season last Saturday at Tullymurry where competitors, officials and volunteers alike received their customary warm welcome from Marion Turley and her extended family who are hosting the Region’s second event back at their Downpatrick equestrian centre today.

Marion’s son-in-law David O’Connor had a busy few days in advance of the fixture, preparing the ground and designing the cross-country courses which he also built with Tony McManmon. On Saturday, while rushing around on the quad to alter fences, he also manged to compete two horses, Kirktown Bob’s Song MIH and Tullymurry Masha, who, on their respective dressage scores of 28.8 and 29 penalties, finished sixth and seventh in the Gain Equine Nutrition EI100 class.