The team, chosen after two closely-fought selection trials, consisted of Sinéad Walsh (Island Pony Club), Sarah Keatley (Kildare Pony Club), Marie-Louise Hughes (Monaghan Pony Club) Graham Devitt (Laois Pony Club) and Anna Flood (Island Pony Club).

The competition system at the show involved a morning session where all points received accumulated for qualification into Saturday’s final. Each evening, however, the top seven teams from the morning session got to play another session in the main arena.

To the delight of their supporters, the Irish team made it through to the evening session each day throughout the week. The team finished third, fifth and sixth in the various sessions, but the best was to come in the final.

Lying fourth place on the score board entering the final, the team had nothing to lose. A breathtaking, flawless performance boosted their points dramatically to overtake two English teams and finish the competition in second place overall.

The competition was won by the Warwickshire team who had performed consistently all week.

Running ahead by 32 points entering the final, they finished the competition only 12 points ahead after the final game.

The Irish team returned home after an exceptional week of mounted games that resulted in new friendships and extremely proud families and supporters.