CAROLINE Bjoerk, the delighted owner/breeder of DSL The Entertainer, was in no rush home from Le Lion d’Angers so, along with husband Lars, spent a few days in Paris unwinding after their trip into western France where they had been joined by son Peter.

Caroline was climbing Mount Elbrus in Russia when her Omar gelding commenced his hat-trick of CNC1* wins at Kilguilkey House in early July and very much feared that she would miss seeing him compete in the world breeding championships for young horses when finding herself in hospital two weeks ago.

“I had to undergo an emergency hernia operation and didn’t think I’d get to France,” said Caroline who purchased DSL The Entertainer’s dam, Cloverhill Girl, from Heather Wright in 2009. A shy breeder, the 1989 Clover Hill mare had a Luidam foal at foot at that stage. Named Ard Cluedo, he went on to represent the Irish Sport Horse Studbook at Le Lion in 2015, finishing ninth in the CCI1* with Melanie Young in the saddle, and is now eventing in England with Ellie Guy.

DSL The Entertainer was the only foal Caroline managed to breed out of Cloverhill Girl and she has given him plenty of time to develop. “He was very backward last year so we just gave him more time and did a lot of flat work and jumping with him at home over the winter.

“I rode him myself for a while, as did Emma Kieran and Sorrell Klatzko. When he was first broken, I always thought that Elizabeth (Power) would suit him and so its proved. She gave him an unbelievable ride on Saturday to finish right on the time allowed and the fence he had down show jumping was just down to greenness.

“The cross-country could have done with a couple of technical questions or skinnies but Le Lion is where we want to be again this time next year. I think this is a proper horse, one who can go all the way.”

While it was disappointing for riders that there was no team veterinary surgeon or any of the dressage or jumping coaches present, Caroline was impressed by the workrate of team chef d’equipe Janet Murray.

“Janet has been there so often that she knows everyone and knows what needs to be done. She was down at the start of cross-country for all our riders and was very good when Dan Jocelyn fell, making sure that the organisers knew that a doctor and ambulance were needed urgently.”

Caroline rode at Le Lion twice herself and was very much hands on over the weekend helping Power’s groom Kate Duffy, who took a week off college, to look after DSL The Entertainer. Happily, she is enjoying this spell as an owner as there are plenty of youngstock at Dollanstown waiting in the wings.