Margie McLoone

THE Campbell family’s Dirraw Farm in Finvoy looked stunning in the sunshine on the north-west coast on Saturday, the weather being in complete contrast to last year.

The tall, thick hawthorn hedges which split the fields were used by many to get out of the wind and enjoy the sun, with people lying down to watch the cross-country action unfold before them in the lower fields. Higher up, and in the wind, conditions were a lot colder.

Unfortunately, the land had changed from wet to dry very quickly leading up to the event and a lot of work had to be carried out on the cross-country track on Saturday morning. A spring tine harrow, a Cambridge roller and a heavy roller were used to level some of the rougher areas.

About 60 tonnes of sand were spread around the track, particularly at take-off and landing points, with most of the work being carried out by Alan Campbell and his team using machinery supplied by B.C. Plant JCB Ltd. A half-dozen or so riders withdrew their horses before cross-country phase but most were happy to continue. Given the small numbers that would most likely start in a two-star class, it was great to see the Campbells being willing to further upgrade their track. One of the first new fences was the Culmore Organic Farm wooden hayrack at three which was followed three fences later by a pair of skinnies on a bending line downhill in the sprig-a-haw field.

The Rea’s of Finvoy hanging log decorated with spruce proved a big jump at 13 judging by the faces on riders as their mounts hung in the air. This fence brought to an end the round of Stephanie Stammschroer and Tullabeg Horizon who retired there.

On the one-star track, the Glendale Finance log splash at three and the two white gates at Andy’s garden (17) caused a few problems; the following F.P. McCann skinny didn’t jump all that well. At EI90 level, the fence which caused the most grief was the Finvoy Tyres hay rack at 11.

From the CNC2* class down to the EI90P, riders left out fences, took the wrong options or jumped the wrong side of flags. Even in the show jumping ring there was a technical elimination for one combination.

Despite lowering the oxer at one and the vertical at 8a in the final show jumping phase, Declan Cullen and his seven-year-old Glenhill Gold gelding Seavaghan Ash recorded their second successive CNC** victory when completing on 42.4. With the only totally clear over the coloured poles, a delighted Sinead Boyd finished second on Kiltealy Flight (43).

“I was delighted with my horse,” stated Cullen. “He is so much like his daddy – you can really trust him across the country. He hasn’t done enough to go two-star in the international at Tatts but I see no point in taking him back there for another one-star. My aim for the year is Blair, which I love, and perhaps Osberton.

“The track here was well up to standard and that hanging log was a big one! I felt sorry for the Juniors who had to jump it as you needed experience to get your line right and then you had to attack it.”

Following Harold Megahey’s withdrawal of Horseware Good News At Last after dressage, Steven Smith only had himself to beat in the open intermediate class. He won with Gina Johnson’s 10-year-old Vittorio gelding Bonito (34.9), who lowered the first part of the double at eight, and finished second with Ardfield Boy who completed on his dressage score (35.7).

Smith was even more pleased for his daughter Hollie, who bounced back from a fall from Gucci III at Maddybenny seven days earlier to land the Hydeequine.com EI100P class on her winning dressage score of 20.5.

She had initiated a double in the EI100J on her uncle Trevor’s Hill Dancer who too recorded a pillar-to-post success (26.3).