Dreadfully out of one's depth at Wednesday night's RDS Dublin Horse Show opening night reception. A veritable Who's Who of internationally renowned showjumpers, trainers, breeders etc under one roof - and we'd never heard of any of them. Well, aside from Irish names such as Paul Darragh, fresh from the saddle after competing in the Kerrygold Speed Stakes earlier that morning, and Comdt Gerry Mullins, one-time Aga Khan Cup winner and now chief instructor at the Army Equestrian School.
The British show jumping team's chef d'equipe, Ronnie Masserella, was there expounding at length on what a sporting bunch the Irish were. Then, again, he'd be one to know about Irish hospitality - he runs Brown Thomas's in-house cafe. Ronnie was seen chatting with France's star horseman, Michele Robert, dapper as anything in tails and boots, and Irish rider Nick Skelton.
RDS president Billy Ringrose, the first holder of the office to have represented Ireland at international showjumping level, mentioned plans for a major revamp of the show next year to coincide with the millennium, but wouldn't be drawn any further. It seems a big announcement is imminent.