THE finale of the IPS Wicklow Area Spring League moved to Spruce Lodge last Saturday. The day dawned bright and beautiful, hitting a high of 22 degrees. The fantastic facilities at Spruce Lodge brought competitors out in their numbers with spectators cheerfully looking on in their shorts and sunhats.

Again the standards were very high and visiting judges commented on the high quality of the ponies going through their rings. The largest numbers of entries were in all the Connemara classes with Lucinda Kelly taking the Connemara Championship.

Again Johnny Kyle was on building duties in the Working Hunter ring with lots of natural obstacles and the water complex making a track that required all riders to think about every stride. Jasper Kelly won the Novice Working Hunter Championship with his new pony Foxtrot Treacle. Jasper was on a roll as he also won the Heritage Working Hunter Championship.

The Open Working Hunter Championship was won by Tiggy Hancock on her pony Monarch of the Glen with Carla Mullen winning the mini Working Hunter section. In the showing ring, Hannah Mackey took two championships, the Starter Stakes Championship and the Show Hunter Championship, with her pony Bunbury Suarez.

Charlotte Kelly was equally delighted with her new mount Chagford Leon, winning both the Show Pony and Part Bred Championships.

Rocklawn Braveheart, ridden by Aine Geoghegan, won both the M & M Ridden and In-Hand Championships. James Ryan was the lucky recipient of a TRI Equestrian voucher as the winner of the Intermediate Championship in both the Marlton Lodge and Spruce Lodge competitions on his father Kieran’s horse Ardfinnian.

The next IPS Show takes place on May 4th at Raheen Na Gun Stud in Co Kilkenny with all members and non-members welcome.

A full list of affiliated shows can be found on irishponysociety.ie/shows/