TWO out of three ain’t bad according to the much-missed Michael Lee Aday aka Meat Loaf, but that wasn’t the consensus of those at the third and final Lightsource BP Tyrella one-day event of the season last Saturday.

Driving rain on the wind, which only eased off for a brief period during the day, made life ‘challenging’ for all and, as ever it seems, with the wind and rain came problems; things run much more smoothly when the sun is out.

There were eliminations for fallers in dressage and for riders with multiple errors, there were eliminations in the show jumping phase for two refusals and, of course, there were eliminations and retirements across the country. Added to this we have been informed that there were cards issued for dangerous riding while disciplinary action was taken for abuse of officials.

“I’ve not seen that much water lying in Tyrella for a very long time,” said Co Meath’s Sarah Ennis who had enjoyed her two previous trips north this year in better weather conditions and, despite the elements, enjoyed Saturday too as she had another winner. “It’s still amazing ground however and, while I was surprised that they didn’t move the show jumps for the 115 classes (after cross-country), it was really just the top of the ground that was soft so horses weren’t sinking into it.

“The cross-country course asked a nice few questions. The time was set at 6.11 which was fine for my older horse (Grantstown Jackson) but I decided to withdraw Steelor Deelite. He’s only a seven-year-old and, as there were a couple of deep patches, it would be too much of an ask for him on just his third start at this level.”

With the addition of 3.2 cross-country time penalties, Ennis won the 13-runner EI115 (Open) on Susanna Francke and Peter Cole’s Irish Sport Horse gelding Grantstown Jackson (34.3), a 12-year-old Clover Brigade bay who had finished second in the EI120 here two weeks previously. Elizabeth Power chose to make her seasonal appearance on the EI circuit last Saturday with three horses and here placed second with Greenfort Gorgeous George (36.4).

Ennis was delighted with the support she had at Tyrella from owners at her yard who she describes as passionate about the sport and their horses and love supporting one another. Grantstown Jackson is one of only two horses she has entered at this week’s Ballindenisk International where he finished fifth of 30 in the CCIO4*-L last September.

Cash Back

Lizzie Scholefield landed the seven-strong EI115 on Rachel Lippiatt’s ISH gelding Classicals Cash Back, a 12-year-old by Cassino, whose completion score of 62 included 26.8 cross-country time penalties.

Anyone looking at the results of the Cathal Daniels team on Saturday would be confused but their lorry broke down en route and, while the organisers did all they could to facilitate the Co Kildare yard, it wasn’t possible to keep classes open with such a huge entry.

If it’s going to be raining when you are on holiday in Ireland, you may as well be sitting in a car assessing dressage as was H.R. Sunil, an FEI judge from India who was delighted to officiate at Tyrella. Following a very long day in the secretary’s unit (the last horse came through the finish at 7.15pm), event secretary Dora Beacom was back at Tyrella the following morning for the Go-As-You-Please which attracted around 60 participants.