THERE was a great turnout of members, families and friends for the recent annual prize-giving of the East Down Pony Club branch where the many achievements of 2015 were recognised and celebrated.

Kindly hosted by Bright Golf Club, the club also thanked Downpatrick racecourse management and Tullymully EC for hosting very successful senior and junior camps in 2015. This vibrant club continues to grow in strength every year as can be seen by the great results in 2015.

The open eventing team of Andrew Turley, Harriet Pele, Toni Quail and Chloe Rooney qualified in first place at Area 17 to attend the open championships in Cholmondeley Castle, Cheshire, where Quail finished in first place overall.

This is the first time in over 30 years East Down had an open team in eventing and they finishing a very commendable fourh place overall over a very challenging course with individual fourth, fifth and eighth places.

They also received the trophy for team closest to optimum time while Turley received the Cradock award for a double clear.

The mini junior team of Caoimhe Crozier, Ellie McDowell, Lucy Keyes and Tom Rowlatt-McCormick travelled to the Area Dressage hosted by North Derry branch and secured a well deserved first place. Senior member, Charlotte Leslie made her trip worthwhile by securing a place.

East Down had two winners in the Home Championships at Laurelview EC in August. These were junior members Andrew Sharvin and Daniel Toner and not to be outshone, the all girls team of Katie Watson, Caoimhe Crozier, Tara Emmett and Hannah Bayfield placed second in the 65cms class.

Success was evident in all age groups of area showjumping with both Andrew Turley and Charis Vinaccia qualifying for the championships this year. The intermediate team that included Charis and Tilly along with Ellen Erskine and Charlotte Leslie finished third overall. The junior show jumping team of Zara Burns, Zara Sharvin, Abbi Cummisky and Lara Kelly took third place. The mini show jumping team of Hannah Bayfield, James Murphy, Lucy Keyes and Sam Hamilton secured a great second place.

Last July, the East Down branch hosted the Area 17 Tetrathlon with pony club members travelling from throughout all of Ireland to compete. Branch member Ellen Erskine was first in the intermediate girls with her brother Paddy taking first in the open boys section.

The open boys team of Andrew Turley, Rory McMullan, Paddy Erskine and Euan Findlay secured their place in England with Andrew Turley picking up his third championship qualifier. As a result, Andrew qualified on his horse, The Devil’s Bit, for the Pony Club Championships in all three disciplines in which he participated making him the worthy winner of East Down’s Ambassador Award.

Junior member, Thomas Murphy, also represented East Down well in 2015 by attending Area Show jumping, Home Championships, Tetrathlon as well as the Dengie show jumping and attending the Area Polocross camp. Thomas was a deserved winner of the best Junior Pony Club award.

Another East Down member making the club proud was Chloe Rooney and her horse Molly Mae. Chloe qualified for the Pony Club Combined Training at the RDS in August, taking a brilliant third place.