The skies took centre stage this week with the Orionid meteor shower in full swing above the fields. The shower was at its peak at the weekend, but if you’re still looking, you should be able to see the glimmering trails for several days yet.

Storm Babet caused havoc and she made a good effort at ruining the paddocks in Fermanagh. The horses had to come in, but thankfully a reprise was had at the weekend as the October sun came out and the mares got the sun on their backs once again.

Warming all our hearts was the outstanding performance from Ireland’s Austin O’Connor and the incredibly talented Colorado Blue (SHBGB). Sunday saw them crowned champions at the prestigious Maryland 5* event at Fairhill in the USA. Colorado Blue is a 2009 gelding by Jaguar Mail (SF) out of Rock Me Baby (AES), by Rock King (WNTR). He was bred by Kate Jarvey of Mellon Stud and owned by Austin O’Connor and The Salty Syndicate.

Footsteps

O’Connor has become the first Irish eventing rider in 58 years to win a 5*competition, following in the footsteps of Major Eddie Boylan and Durlas Eile who won the five-star Badminton Horse Trials in 1965.

Tokyo Olympian O’Connor and Colorado Blue were in 12th place after the opening dressage phase on Friday and climbed eight places to fourth after a brilliant cross country performance on Saturday, where they added just 1.2 time penalties.

A brilliant clear final show jumping round on Sunday – which was the only clear inside the time of the competition, saw them climb from overnight fourth place to take a massive victory on a final score of 34.9.

Emotional

Maryland is one of just seven of the five-star “majors” in the world of eventing, and speaking afterwards, an emotional Austin O’Connor revealed that a five-star win was something he thought he might have never achieved: “People like me – we’re not supposed to win five-stars, but it’s just happened, I think. It’s the end result of a lifetime’s work really.

“Ultimately it’s all about the horse – he is unbelievable, he’s been a champion for years and privately I was prepared to give him to somebody better because I thought he deserved to win a five-star and I didn’t think I could win one with him, but here we are.”

The Irish bred Cooley Rosalent (ISH) bred by J.W Rosbotham, claimed third place with Oliver Townend (GBR), while another Irish-bred, Greenacres Special Cavalier (ISH), bred by Michael Callery, finished sixth with Caroline Powell (NZL).