VIRGINIA McGrath, who competed for Ireland in eventing at two Olympic Games (Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000) and at World and European championships, only maintains contact with the sport these days as a cross-country score sheet collector at Tattersalls International Horse Trials.

She is now heavily involved with the breeding and rearing of thoroughbreds at Simmonstown Stud where she took time out after Christmas to watch racing on television. She had a particular interest in two horses, Elusive Belle and that 2014 Elusive Pimpernel mare’s year-younger full-brother, Soviet Pimpernel. They are out of the Soviet Star mare Soviet Belle.