TWO members of the Irish Pony Club, who won bursaries through last September’s IPC show jumping Classic in Coilóg Equestrian Centre, spent their recent mid-term break at the Army Equitation School in McKee Barracks, Dublin under the guidance of Lt Col Tom Freyne.

Patrick Gleeson (Scarteen Hunt Branch) and Edel Whyte (Co Longford Hunt Branch) reported that the “bursary allowed us to get an insight into the high standards of training and management within McKee Barracks. We received an excellent week of training both on horseback and in stable management.”

Leaving certificate student Patrick does a lot of registered jumping and Pony Club eventing.

The 18-year-old regularly rides out in the racing yard of his uncle John Gleeson but, in a bid to catch up on his studies last Sunday, couldn’t attend the Co Limerick Foxhounds’ point-to-point at Cragmore where his cousin Billy rode Baily Fox to victory in the older geldings’ maiden.

Edel was one of the Longford quartet who won the Open team championship at the IPC Festival in Mullingar last August and then followed up with victory in The Pony Club show jumping championships in Cholmondeley Castle. She also won the senior pairs’ class at the 2017 IPC hunter trials championships. The fifth member of her Branch to win a Classic bursary, Edel is a sister of James Whyte, a former Longford Branch member who recently joined the Army Equitation School having been commissioned last month.

The IPC expresses its thanks to Lt Col Tom Freyne, Capt Cillian McHugh and Commdt Sharon Crean for their assistance in organising this wonderful experience for Edel and Patrick and looks forward to continuing this long-standing partnership with the Army Equitation School for many years to come.