SUMMERHILL’s Michael McNally decided he had too much on his plate to ride at his family’s Clonmahon House on Saturday which is just as well as he would never have had time to warm-up such were the many times he was stopped to be congratulated on staging this truly top-class fixture.

With a blank canvas to begin with, McNally wasn’t working around an old hunter trial track or similar, and so could design a true event course – and venue - for this first year with plans for bigger and better into the future. From the minute one drove into Clonmahon House one was struck by the professionalism.

There were large, obvious directional signs everywhere in the grounds and on the cross-country course which was roped throughout; six of the seven dressage arenas (belonging to the North Leinster Region) were lined out side by side on a very level piece of land while the seventh was on level ground a short distance away.

Frankfort Stud’s Will Kearney had two good rings in which to build his show jumping tracks while no expense was spared when it came to the cross-country course. More or less on site since January for the first scheduled event, which had to be cancelled because of the wet weather, Derek Hamilton and Ray Doyle had top quality imported timber to work with and some wonderful natural contours to the land.

The fences will all be stored in one of the many large sheds on site. Beside one there was a large, full silage pit testament to two days’ grass cutting of the fields towards the end of last month. Four tankers watered the ground over three days (with the water being drawn from the boundary-marking river) while two agrivators were in use. If sand was needed, it was taken from the borrow pit which also served as a viewing point for the commentators and spectators on Saturday. Every fence had beautiful, real floral decorations.

If Michael was unable to attend to anything his father and namesake did his bit and McNally Senior was more than proud of what his son had achieved. “Everyone is telling me that this is what an event course should be like. Michael has put his heart and soul into this over the past couple of years and I’m thrilled for him that it has all come together.”

It was good to see both the Northern and Leinster Region teams blending well together here with event secretary Doran Beacom bringing down some of her key NR personnel to work alongside society steward Gervaise Maher and the NLR team.