WE don’t know if they set any world or European records but, with two sets of awards to be presented and a night to enjoy, it must have been a very speedy prize-giving ceremony in the Woodland House Hotel, Adare on Saturday, November 22nd.

The Limerick/Clare and Cork Areas once again came together for this function and as we here are restricted for space we are going to concentrate on three main winners from the Cork Area - Creganna Dancer and Whiteleaze Temptation, who were multiple winners last year as well, plus Pantycoed Mercutio.

Ridden by Amber Lane, who also successfully competes the 17-year-old skewbald Irish Sport Pony mare under Dressage Ireland rules, the Marjorie Hardiman-bred Creganna Dancer (Moores Clover - War Bonnet, by Jackets Goldfinch) won three 2025 Area awards - those of coloured pony of the year, show hunter pony of the year and working hunter pony of the year.

Young Rebecca Fleming had a busy night as, in addition to numerous minor awards, she won four pony of the year titles with two different mounts.

Her winner of the mini pony of the year and the part-bred pony of the year awards was the 16-year-old British-bred mare Whiteleaze Secret Temptation (Cusop Dimension - Hammonds Hidden Secret, by Hever Olympic). Fleming was also presented with the mini show hunter of the year and the Mountain and Moorland pony of the year awards for her results on the nine-year-old British-bred gelding Pantycoed Mercutio (Dirion Ffloyd - Pantycoed Portia, by Pantycoed Kingfisher).

Fleming had to settle for second and third on Whiteleaze Secret Temptation and Pantycoed Mercutio in the first ridden division behind the equitation pony of the year, the Emily Palmer-ridden eight-year-old gelding Goldengrove Answer (Holyoake Czar - Rhos Enchantment, by Derwent Rainbow Bandit) who was bred in Co Tipperary by Claire Scott and Sarah Rymer.

Also in contention for this title was the lead rein division winner Torcardiz Arbennig Arum (Flydon Heyl - Flydon Addewid Aur, by Flydon Caradog) who was crowned mini working hunter pony of the year. This 13-year-old 122cm gelding gained his points during the season under both Jack and Amelia Palmer, whose mother Cathriona owns the bay and the 20-year-old British-bred gelding Bronheulog Sunny Boy (Barkway Malabou - Cinderella Sunshine, by Bronheulog Roya), winner of the starter stakes show hunter pony of the year title under Emily.

The Connemara pony of the year was the Sarah Maguire-ridden six-year-old mare Star In The Night (Lightening Star - My Daisy Eile, by Rathcoona Cove); Roisin Casey, who was crowned the young handler champion for 2025, also claimed the performance pony of the year award with the eight-year-old piebald mare Corrib Lexi and the show pony of the year award with the six-year-old chesnut gelding HJR Firecracker.