Slieve Donard and its fellow mountains on the other side of the bay disappeared in the mist but thankfully there was no problem with visibility at the event.

In the fortnight since Tyrella (2), the going had dried up considerably and continued to do so throughout the day in a chilly wind. The Turley family, who maintain the ground at Tyrella both for the East Down point-to-points and Eventing Ireland one-days, had done considerable work at the seaside venue to produce a good surface.