Ireland was dressed in its best clothes for this leg of the IJM Timber Frame Grand Prix League - the sun shone, the sky was blue and the outdoor arena at Cavan Equestrian Centre looked superb. The ampitheatre seating gave everyone a perfect view of the arena.
The Judges, timekeepers and scribes must love the summer months when they get to see daylight and on days like today, sunlight - the judges box is directly above the time clock in the above right hand picture - must make a nice change from being indoors for so much of the year.

Pictured left: Sara-Jayne Tracy and sister Leeanne watched the Grand Prix today - Sara-Jayne will be seen on the starters list in the coming weeks on her new mount for the season, Holmestead Saddlery DotCom.

Pictured below right we see three young riders discussing the course looking very relaxed. Today was not to be Darragh's day with John Earls Windgates Cruise West but with a rider of this much talent he will come out fighting next week!
Pictured below, James Kernan assures maximum exposure with this great truck parking spot which is as close to ringside as you could get, without being in the ring - and today did not see him start in the Grand Prix.

With 38 of the 45 listed starters taking to the arena it was to be a good class to watch - the course had been set perhaps a little lower than normal but it was technical enough and gave the riders plenty of challenges.

This round gave the opportunity for some of the nationally based riders to gain some points on the league table and fifteen combinations went through to the jump off to challenge for the euro3,000 prize fund for today's Grand Prix.

There were several combinations who didn't get through to the jump off but this does not truly justify the great rounds they did - Olive Clarke and Hands Free jumped an incredible round with the horse having matured over the winter break and no doubt this combination will be a force to be reckoned with again this season.

Heather Purcell and both her horses had super rounds - Heather, making a bid to represent Ireland at the Junior European Championships is riding fabulously and would surely be looking at a place to go to Switzerland on current form.
Heather and Jaynick, pictured left and below, jumped a superb clear round, with everything looking right until, as they came to the last fence, coach Richie Maloney, called her attention to the time, but it was too late and she collected a time penalty, which kept her out of the jump off - but that didn't keep the smile off her face after the round - she knew she had jumped a super round and was very pleased with herself and her horse!
Pictured left: This couple were deep in conversation as they waited for the class to start.
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