THE Co Kildare Branch proved triumphant as Pony Club racing came to Ireland last Sunday at Fairyhouse.
The two flat races were run after the combined Meath Hunt and Tara Harriers’ point-to-point in the middle of the racecourse and attracted entries from five Branches of the Irish Pony Club, four apiece from the Kildares, Louths and Ward Union, two from the Meaths and one from Westmeath.
The winner of the first race, for ponies 14hh and under, was 13-year-old Liam Browne who represented the Kildares twice at the minimus championships and many times in show jumping and eventing. His brother Max (15), who landed the race for ponies 15hh and under, competes successfully in all Pony Club activities and has completed the IPC’s jockey skills course at RACE.
Richard Pugh of p2p.ie, who was working with RTÉ this week in their coverage of the Punchestown Festival, provided a wonderful commentary on both races which were recorded in full by Ray Ross of Ardglas Videos. Connolly’s Red Mills, who sponsor the IPC’s one-day event qualifiers and final, supported the races and were represented on Sunday by former jockey Padge Gill.
While the fences have since been removed, the point-to-point course at Fairyhouse will be used for exercising their horses and ponies by those competing at the Tattersalls international horse trials at the end of the month.