IPC hunter trials this weekend

THE Mackey/Irish Pony Club National Hunter Trials competition takes place today at Moorefields Kennels, New Ross, Co Wexford and it’s good to see that six Branches have made an entry for the teams of three section which gets the action under way at 9am.

Taking in all singles and pairs classes, there will be horses and/or ponies leaving the start box until late, with the final competitor in the concluding Under 12s singles, the Ward Union’s Emma Brooks, scheduled to depart at 5.13pm carrying bib number 418. There are also four entries for the hunting horn blowing competition.

With strict Covid-19 protocols in place, gatherings are strictly prohibited and members are asked to leave the venue once they have competed. Final results will be published on the IPC website on Monday.

Entries close on Thursday next, October 1st (or earlier with some Branches), for the IPC’s National Minimus competition which is scheduled to take place over the weekend of October 10th and 11th at Nuenna Farm Equestrian Centre, Freshford and The Watershed, Kilkenny.

While Minimus caters for riders aged 12 and under on January 1st this year, Branch members of all ages can compete in the IPC’s National Dressage Day which is scheduled for Saturday, October 17th at the popular venue of Spruce Lodge in Co Wicklow.

For both of these national competitions, Covid-19 has resulted in many changes to the usual format and those intending to take part should carefully study all the up-to-date information on the IPC’s website.