AS ever in competition, there are those delighted with the result and others bitterly disappointed and such was the case in the Open class at last weekend’s Irish Pony Club/Connolly’s Red Mills eventing championships at Tattersalls Ireland.

The United’s Alana-Rose Steele went into the final round of the league with a one-point advantage over her nearest rival but, following a very successful season which saw her finish second in the Members’ combined training at the Dublin Horse Show, her mount MBF Lord Lancer Bobbie, had an off-day on Saturday. Steele withdrew the six-year-old Fly Away Ali gelding after a disappointing dressage phase and two fences down show jumping.