WHEN I joined the company approaching 10 years ago it was as finance director and company secretary and my role involved everything you would envisage in that regard from finance and contractual matters, HR, IT and capital investment management, risk and change management, liaison with commercial partners and industry stakeholders as required.

I was also very lucky to befriend and be mentored by the late George Mernagh.George passionately instilled in all of us what it meant to represent Tattersalls Ireland and to always strive to provide professional and personal service to breeders and vendors of all sizes with an emphasis always on integrity, loyalty and high quality standard of service.

George was also passionate about our site here and its reputation as a centre of equine excellence which has been showcased in particular by the International Horse Trials and as I write it appears that we have our largest entry since inception with 343 participants entered from nine different nations. Hopefully, we can deliver the biggest event yet in a few weeks’ time and in turn better the 31,000 attendance from last year.

We also host up to 10 other equestrian events on site during the year from the popular July Show to point-to-points, hunter trials and National Eventing Championships. When we lost George in 2011 I was honoured to be asked by Tattersalls Limited to assume the role of managing director here in Ireland in addition to my financial and corporate responsibilities and, while it has been a challenge, it has also been a most rewarding experience.

Having joined the company at the height of the recession and during a period of overproduction, it was then pleasing to be part of the overall recovery and witness the improving results achieved in the sale ring since that difficult time and to be part of such a dynamic and resilient industry.

In recent years, as well as maintaining the high standards of our existing sales portfolio and calendar of events here in Fairyhouse, the acquisition and integration of the former Brightwells horses-in-training sales business and team members into the wider ‘Tattersalls family’ has been another interesting and gratifying experience.

Every sale and event that we stage here is treated on a standalone basis and planned for and delivered in meticulous detail and again this is testament to everyone attached to the various teams here from bloodstock sales to marketing, accounts to maintenance etc.

We are responsible now for 20 sales across two jurisdictions in addition to the calendar of other events noted above so preparation and planning is vital and we have been very ‘lucky’ with regard to how well the various aspects of the business have developed in recent times.

Whether it’s in business, sport or life in general I am a firm believer in the adage that ‘luck is what happens where preparation meets opportunity’ and essentially the idea that the more prepared you are and the harder you work the more opportunities that will present themselves for you to avail of and the ‘luckier’ you are.

I would sincerely hope that with the on-going support of Tattersalls Limited and the continued efforts of our diligent and conscientious team here in Ireland that we and our loyal clients will continue to be ‘lucky’ in the years to come.