Category: Christa Dillon
Alan Ward is a remarkable man. When he was just ten years old, his teacher asked him what he wanted to do when he grew up. His reply was simple-“to make saddles”. His life path was set,and today he continues to fulfil his destiny from his base in Ballinasloe, County Galway. Alan, his wife Georgina […]
I generally write with one of two intentions-to make people laugh, or to tell them something that they perhaps didn’t know. This piece serves neither purpose. The equestrian world is a vast and far reaching community of people, primarily united in their love for the horse. Whilst there are many different sectors and branches of […]
Christa Dillon’s BLACKHILL EVENTING Presents – A fundraiser for Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony. The entire equestrian community has been simultaneously saddened and inspired by event rider Hannah Francis and her mascot, Willberry. Hannah received a terminal osteosarcoma diagnosis in 2015, at just 17 years of age. Instead of accepting her fate, Hannah has fought hard. She […]
Christa Dillon’s BLACKHILL EVENTING Presents – A unique opportunity to train with Irish international 3* event rider Lindsay Graham at The Field Equestrian Centre, Stradbally on Sunday 7th August. Lindsay is an excellent trainer and has vast experience, having competed up to 3* level. She is a consummate producer of young horses, and her upbeat and […]
Citius, Altius, Fortius. The Olympic motto translates as ‘faster, higher, stronger’, and it perfectly encompasses the efforts and ambitions of every athlete that has ever taken part at any Olympic Games. Competing at the Olympics is the single greatest sporting honour that any athlete can achieve, and it is often the end result of a […]
Eventing is a truly unique and diverse sport. Riders and horses of every sort, colour and creed enjoy the challenges that eventing brings, and throughout its history there have been many non-conformist success stories that capture the minds and hearts of participants and spectators alike. Horses such as Charisma, Murphy Himself, Just William and Mulry’s […]
The Tattersalls International Horse Trials and Country Fair is the Jewel in the crown of the Irish Eventing season. And with the 2016 contest set to be the final Olympic trial for the Irish riders, there was everything to play for. Bathed in glorious sunshine, the venue looked superb and the competition got underway with […]
Mother Theresa of Calcutta once said that some people come into our life as blessings and others come into our life as lessons. Hannah Francis is surely both. Diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer called Osteosarcoma in 2015 at just seventeen years of age, Hannah decided to make a bucket list and […]
Joseph Murphy is a man on a mission. His journey from GAA mad teenager to Olympian has been the perfect melting pot of planning, opportunity and sheer hard work. With an innate ability to spot top class potential in a horse and an accurate and forward riding style, Joseph has built himself a solid string […]
I wanted to write something funny. Truly, I did. But I don’t feel funny. I just feel sad. Yet another rider has lost their life to the sport that they love. That’s three in the first three months of the season, for those of us in Europe. The numbers are all there to be looked […]