ON his way to watch Elizabeth Power compete his Balladeer Clintender in the CCI4*-S at Scone Palace in Scotland, Ivan Hatton admitted to being much relieved following the weekend’s very successful Connolly’s Red Mills/Irish Pony Club National Eventing Championships at Tattersalls Ireland.

There were 14 dressage arenas in operation on Saturday along with three show jumping rings, which dropped to one on Sunday to cater for those competing at Open and Intermediate level who had tackled their cross-country phase on Saturday afternoon. Two tracks, one at 90cm level at the higher end of the farm and one at 80cm at the lower, ran concurrently throughout the second day and these were completely separate - apart from crossing at the main water fence, which attracted most of the spectators.