IN spite of the weather conditions, last weekend’s Dressage Ireland National Championships at the Mullingar Equestrian Centre were, in general, considered a success with riders being fulsome in their praise of the arena surfaces.

Although he wasn’t competing at the championships this year, Britain-based Irish international Dane Rawlins attended as usual and, while his visit was brief because of concerns regarding ferry sailings, he did have time to be interviewed by show organiser, Jane Whitaker.