Molly Evans, who has fought back after having two years out of eventing due to illness, heads the under-25 CCI4*-L at the conclusion of the Defender Bramham Horse Trials dressage this evening. The 24-year-old Irish rider piloted Wellan Graffiti to a score of 33.1.

“The test didn’t start the way I planned – there was a bit of a bump coming through the arch into the arena when two Irish riders rode into each other and it threw us both off. So I was a bit flustered and didn’t turn up the centre line on the leg I planned, but she was as cool as anything and did beautiful square halt, so that was a good first impression for the judges,” said Molly….

On the stroke of eight o’clock, on a sunny Saturday morning at Tyrella, Eventing Ireland’s programme eventually got underway as Steven Smith trotted up the centre line with Maureen Brown’s Fleur de Lis under-saddle, to salute judge Rosie Gomes.

It had been a long wait as event after event, since the middle of March, was cancelled both North and South in the wake of months of continuing rainfall.

However, eventers were rewarded for the long wait with, not only a glorious day, but almost perfect ground conditions. Thank you to Andrew Napier who worked hard on Monday removing in excess of 20 tanker loads of water from the field where the dressage was being performed….