LAST Saturday, Ian and Alison Wilson welcomed the Northern Region of Eventing Ireland to the first of two one-day events this year at their lovely Vesey Lodge north of Belfast, where attention to detail is obvious from the moment you arrive.

Mentored by Adam Stevenson, cross-country course designer and builder Noel Fitzpatrick revamped one of the water complexes, created a new bank and also introduced two stone walls (out of the land owned by obliging neighbours Eddie and Jan Martin), all of which served to upgrade what have always been interesting tracks at this venue.