THE sport horse world was well represented at the Co Down Hunt point-to-point in Moira last Saturday, when among those spotted in the heavy rain was show jumper and thoroughbred breeder, Michael Cave.

Equine physiotherapist Sharon Kelly, whose two-year-old HHS Cornet gelding Annaghmore Dunkirk was reserve champion young horse at the Dublin Horse Show in August, was in attendance along with her husband, Wilson Murphy, and their dog Lily. Not too surprisingly present, given that they both trained winners, were former event riders Caroline McCaldin and Ross Crawford.

Also braving the elements to watch the racing on Saturday were HSI Level 3 international coach Debbie Byrne and her husband Paul. Debbie was taking particular interest in Wilson Dennison’s runners, as she visits Loughanmore each week to do grid work with the young horses. Debbie and Paul’s daughter Alex, who competed two horses at EI110 (J) level this year, Major Cross and Suirvalley Little Monkey, is among a squad of 28 who are heading to a Hockey Ireland training camp in Spain in early January, after which the numbers will be whittled down to 18 ahead of next year’s European championships.

The only southern trained winner on the day was the Ian Donoghue-saddled John The Spark, who landed the concluding older horses’ maiden in the colours of The Underwriting Exchange’s Stephen O’Connor.

In London on business, Stephen not only missed seeing his Telescope gelding win by four and a half lengths, but he also missed the previous day’s opening meet of the Ward Union Hunt, of which he is one of joint-Masters. He does intend filling his position at the pack’s children’s meet in Fairyhouse tomorrow.