IAN Wilson, who, with his wife Alison, hosted Saturday’s Northern Region one-day event at Vesey Lodge, is counting down the days to the commencement of the new hunting season.

“I just can’t wait for the hunting to begin as, if possible, I hunt four days a week,” said Ian. “Also, my staff can’t wait for the hunting season to begin as then they won’t see me four days a week!”

As ever, Vesey Lodge looked stunning on Saturday with the hedges beautifully trimmed and everything so neat and tidy. “I can’t take any credit for that,” said Ian. “That’s all down to Noel Fitzpatrick who keeps everything here so perfect. He and his team have put in a lot of work to have things spot-on for today and just asked if the Killultagh Pony Club could run a go-as-you-please here tomorrow which I think I’ll take a horse on myself!”

Vesey Lodge, north of Belfast, is quite unlike any other eventing venue in this country as the beautifully-presented cross-country course features vehicles coming up for sale through Wilsons Auctions. This year’s offering included horse trailers, a jeep, a horsevan and a large horsebox which doubled up quite nicely as a hospitality centre on Saturday.

STITCHED UP

There was a great atmosphere around the grounds, probably not appreciated as much late on by two people who had to visit their local A&E unit for further investigation and ultimately stitches. These were rider Colin Halliday, whose arm was ripped by a stud following a fall in the four-year-old class almost at the same time that rider Janie Cairns’s father David had his thumb lacerated by a kick from a young horse.

One sour note from Saturday was that rubbish was seen being thrown from a car leaving the grounds – what an insult to all those who had Vesey Lodge looking so well when people arrived on-site in the morning.