WITH no alternative last Sunday it was either take the long drive to Bandon or stay at home. Well there was never any real question as to which option to take and luckily it was a nice day for driving and pleasant sunshine in Co Cork made the journey well worthwhile.

I have a special place for this Bandon meeting in my memory, it having been the last of three fixtures Chris and I went to on our honeymoon - our first ever visit to Ireland. In 1968 it was held at Bandon though there is no indication on the racecard as to which townland and though thanked, the land owners were not named.