THERE were only eight Open competitors last weekend at Tattersalls where the Connolly’s Red Mills/Irish Pony Club national eventing championships came back on stream following a year’s break due to Covid-19.

The pandemic could be blamed for the low turn-out but numbers have dropped considerably in recent years at this level. Many ‘older’ riders have chosen to compete under Eventing Ireland rules and were thus in action at the EI one-day event in Blackstairs or at the international in Millstreet. Open riders could choose to qualify for the weekend through IPC events or a mixture of IPC and EI competitions.