SUNDAY saw another successful staging of the Irish Pony Society Kildare/North Leinster Area annual summer show at Tattersalls.

Building on the success of recent years, there was a large field of competitors in a variety of classes, ranging from youngstock and family ponies to performance jumping and working hunters. Over the course of the day, some 200 ponies and riders, from all corners of the country, competed in more than 72 classes and championships.

As always, the working hunter track proved a challenging but useful practice run for Dublin, with plenty to look at – the bullfinch will prove memorable for many!

The home-bred Fairyhouse Coco, partnered by local rider Anna Byrne, came out on top of the novice classes as champion before going on to be named reserve champion among the open working hunters. The intermediate section was also awarded to a home-bred in this instance BLM Cosmopolitan Belwin who was ridden by another Ward Union Pony Club member in Patrick Purfield.

On the showing side of the field, Anton Cat Seraph, ridden by Tipperary’s Amber Marnane, was declared champion show pony with the trophy for the open show hunter champion making its way west with Galway’s Alannah Glynn who won with Yealand Pilgrim. Meanwhile, Chloe Salley, landed the novice show hunter championship on her new mount Creevelea Midnight Rambler.

Following the pattern of recent years, the heritage classes again proved very popular.

On Sunday, the Connemara title went to Freya Alken’s Gallant Prince. The Mountain and Moorland champion was Glynsylen Magellan (Tiggy Hancock) with Julianne Dore’s Foxtown Blueberry impressively slotting into the reserve position in both championships. The coloured pony honours went to Northern Ireland through the Julia Mulligan-ridden Sweetwall Tamarind and, in the equation section, Charlotte Goor came out on top with Whittaker’s Duchess.

Paddy Byrne continued a successful debut year off the lead rein on the eye-catching seven-year-old Crumpwell Blue Lukey who clinched the mini supreme title after landing the mini working hunter championship in the morning.

Among the many winners, reserves and champions, the ultimate accolade went to the readily-identifiable Plasdavrene Matty’s Mate who was chosen by an international panel of judges as overall supreme champion of the show.

Josh Williamson expertly steered the chesnut gelding around the working hunter course to take the open championship before providing the gallop of the day and being called forward as supreme champion. Tiggy Hancock, on her starter stakes champion, Rockview Bright Spark, slotted into the reserve position.

The Tattersalls team challenge was won by Team Jamber which comprised Anna Byrne and the Marnane sisters Rihanna, Amber and Emily.