Margie McLoone

THE Campbells are justifiably proud of Dirraw Farm and it was great to hear so many owners and riders who made the journey to Finvoy last Saturday thank the Co Antrim family for their efforts in staging the one-day event.

Driving into the venue it was a real pleasure to see all the hedges neatly trimmed and the grass mown throughout the organic farm; the going was excellent.

As at Maddybenny the previous Saturday, the event, which is off the beaten track for many regular volunteers, received great support from Bann Valley Riding Club, the Route Hunt and Causeway Coast Charity Showjumpers.

There was fence sponsorship too from Claas (agricultural machinery), Glendale Finance, Reas of Finvoy and Finvoy Tyre Service. While the tyre man took himself off to the motorbike racing in Tandragee, there were representatives from the other three sponsors at the event and, in spite of the cold wind and spats of rain, they enjoyed the day.

Luckily, Saturday’s heavy deluge didn’t reach the north east of the country until late but it then arrived with a vengeance, forcing the cancellation of the Go As You Please rides scheduled for Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday.

“The intro class ended in the dry and we only had to tow one lorry out of the field,” reported Alan Campbell who was assisted in building the cross-country course by son Christopher. “We were washed out of here on Sunday and Monday so I suppose we were fortunate to get running on Saturday.

“We were delighted with how the day went and the new two-star course rode well. It was really pleasing to have so many people compliment us during and after the event.”

The track, which has been updated by Adam Stephenson, was originally designed by Tony McManmon and Sonya Rowe. The new Glendale Bank, fence five on the two-star track, was topped by an elm tree which fell during the winter storms and faced with large stones which were found on the farm.

The log corner at 18 brought competitors into a new field which they exited through Andy’s Garden (fence 21), two off-set white gates.

Having had to compete hors concours at her home event, Maddybenny, the previous Saturday, Tegan White won Finvoy’s first two-star with her 10-year-old skewbald gelding Texan Style when completing on her dressage score of 32.5 penalties.

IDEAL PLACE

“I thought it was a good track, an ideal place to upgrade, and the two brush-topped corners (fences eight and nine) were nice and technical. I was very pleased with my horse and we’re now heading for the CIC** at Floors Castle (starts next Friday).”

It was a successful Bank Holiday weekend for White and the homebred Texan Style as they won the 1.10m and placed fifth in the 1.20m at Portrush on Monday. In addition, the White family’s Rockrimmon Senator mare Fabregas, a half-sister to Texan Style and this weekend’s Badminton contender Portersize Just A Jiff, had a colt foal last Friday by Cruisings Micky Finn.

Aoife Carr, who works at Maddybenny during the school holidays, won the EI 90P class with the Connemara gelding Dara’s Oliver and finished seventh, on her dressage score, in the EI 100J class with Eavan White’s Kaleidoscope who she also show jumps.

Steven Smith, who led the two-star class after dressage (27.1) only to drop to second when My Ballymac Bay picked up eight show jumping penalties, had some compensation when comfortably landing the three-runner open novice with the 10-year-old Spirit House gelding Hill Dancer.