Again the talking point this weekend has been the weather - when Ireland is used to having these early season shows cancelled due to rains, this year the talk is of the ground becoming too hard and the fact that venues are using their synthetic surfaced arenas instead of grass for the welfare of the horses.

The picnic table chatter is all about seeding and fertilising the fields and now hoping for the rain - something nobody thought they would hear an Irishman say!

This fifth round of the Guidam Spring Tour was held at Boswell in Ashford, County Wicklow and this is probably the best place to make a correction to last weeks report from Barnadown which I said was in County Wicklow - apologies because Barnadown is actually in County Wexford.

Boswell Equestrian is owned by Gerry Gorman who is a builder by trade but his love is obviously the centre, where he is the host who enjoys welcoming company to each and every show. Gerry has a ready "hello" for everyone and his staff have ready smiles.

The latest improvement is the BBQ nook - pictured below which was greeted with great joy by the big crowd at Boswell today for the Guidam spring tour show.
The arena was kept in great shape by the Boswell crew with the water pumped on it - pictured above right - between classes and rounds and the rolling done - pictured below right - so quickly and efficiently again to make sure the surface was to everyone's liking.

The synthetic surfaces are great but one of the major drawbacks is the huge amount of maintenance required to keep them perfect - but they are definitely the way to go with the guarantee that shows do not need to be cancelled because of weather conditions - these surfaces are never too hard or too boggy.

And once the surface is well looked after there is no doubt the horses jump well on them, without the need for studs - and that can't be a bad thing!

Everyone was "on the phone" this weekend..........

Gerry Gorman - pictured left - , host of this leg of the Guidam Spring TOur and major sponsor of the National Grand prix League about to start in a couple of weeks puts his money where his slogan is - Boswell Equestrian - supporting Irish Showjumping!
Benny Kuehnle - pictured right - riding for the O'Connor Swail team is a very talented young rider who is getting the opportunity to ride some of the best horses in Ireland and he is one who will be representing Ireland at the very top level in no time!
Course Designer, Killian Clarke, gets in a quick call, while taking advantage of the "hutch" - pictured left - for Course Designers to sit and watch their tracks jump out of the weather, be that be beating sun or lashing rain!
Pictured right - Linzi Johnson, usually seen in the saddle but today here to watch Ger O'Neill riding her Colorado in the Grand Prix making a quick call before.................................walking the course

with Steven Smith and Ger O'Neill- pictured left.

Ger was to be a busy man in the Grand Prix today with three in the class.

Steven Smith was also doing the full load with three in the Grand Prix as was Darragh Kenny - pictured centre of image below - and Ronan Corrigan.
Mark McAuley - pictured left of image right - had two to go in the Grand Prix.
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