THE joint Irish Pony Society awards’ night for the Limerick/Clare and Cork Areas held in the Woodland House Hotel on Saturday, November 22nd, was a noisy affair especially when it was announced that Sophie Cusack and Seamie Braddish were winners of the girl and boy rider of the year awards in Limerick/Clare.

While she did compete other ponies during the year, Cusack recorded her best results on the nine-year-old, John Tierney-bred Connemara gelding Clareville Codiac (Caherlistrane Bay - Tegan, by Slisneoir) who she also competes with Dressage Ireland and Showjumping Ireland. Earlier in the night, the grey was crowned working hunter pony of the year.

Braddish was not only presented with the boy rider of the year award but also with the novice pony of the year award thanks to his excellent 2025 season in Mountain and Moorland lead rein classes. His willing partner during the season was the British-bred, seven-year-old Welsh Section A mare Rowfantina On Song (On Song - Rowfantina).

Crowned Area pony of the year was the show hunter pony of 2025, Scalacre Eclipse (Rotherwood Peeping Tom - Buckover Spellbound, by Romanyriver Rob Roy). This 16-year-old British-bred gelding made his mark in 133cm show hunter pony classes this year in the hands of Ella Moran. That young rider also won the part-bred pony of the year and the open show pony of the year titles with the 14-year-old Newoak Hot Gossip (Shilstone Rocks Day Of Fury - Barkway Mystique, by Backside Little Toff), another British-bred gelding.

Other ponies to pick up two titles on the night were Bronheuolog Gold Dust, Proclins Prince Charming and Thorndale Melody.

A regular contender in first ridden classes under Enzo Rocca Houlihan, the 13-year-old British-bred gelding Bronheuolog Gold Dust (Eyarth Figaro - Bronheuolog Gemma, by Barkway Malabou) won the mini show hunter pony of the year award en route to being crowned the Area’s overall mini pony of the year 2025. Also partnered by Rocca Houlihan was the mini Mountain and Moorland and the mini working hunter pony of the year, the 14-year-old British-bred gelding Proclins Prince Charming (Bronycoed Hurricane - Gydros Lace, by Monnow Victor).

Riding for her mother Sue Ann, Cara Foley claimed the Mountain and Moorland pony of the year and the Connemara pony of the year titles with Thorndale Melody. By the performance influence I Love You Melody, the seven-year-old grey mare, who Foley qualified for the flat Connemara championship at Dublin this season, was bred in Co Wicklow by Tessa Collier out of Fernside Topaz Sea (by Grange King’s Surf).

A human we should mention is Caroline Hamilton who won the young handlers’ award. She was noted during the season showing the eight-year-old piebald mare Amy Cookie, who she also competes with Dressage Ireland.