THE pre-Covid-19 season kicked off with great positivity when Cathal Daniels, Michael Ryan, Austin O’Connor and Padraig McCarthy travelled to contend the Portuguese spring tour at Barroca d’Alva. Daniels dominated the first weekend when winning both the CCI3*-S (OLS King Aragon) and the CCI2*-S aboard Shannondale Mari. Ireland’s good form continued right through until the final weekend, when McCarthy and Leonidas II headed the CCI4-L and all Irish riders were placed. Incredibly this was to be the last mainland European foray and, as eventing closed down, there would be no further Irish representation until the WBFSH young horse championships was staged at Le Lion D’Angers in October.

Always a showcase for Irish breeding, Janet Murray’s squad travelled to France with the full quota of six-year-olds, and nine of a possible 12 of the seven-year-old age group. Staged behind closed doors, the six-year-olds fared best, with Cathal Daniels holding a creditable fifth spot with the mare LEB Empress. All three horses completed well, but in the older sector the results were mixed. The performances of the seven-year-olds reflected their lack of international mileage at the level, in comparison to those in Europe whose season had kicked off in June.