IT was almost like a summer holiday at Sentower Park, Opglabbeek in Belgium for the first leg of the FEI jumping Nations Cup Youth Series as the weather gods shone gloriously down on those who travelled, forcing everyone to root out long-forgotten sunglasses and sunscreen.

Despite having the greatest distance and two bodies of water to cross, the Irish fielded the third highest number of riders with 42 athletes and 72 horses and ponies, surpassed only by the host country and their neighbours France.