THE Northern Area of the Irish Pony Society held its 2025 awards night on Saturday, November 22nd at Millbrook Lodge, Ballynahinch where there was a lengthy prize-giving ceremony as, not only were national winners honoured, but so, too, were those who competed solely on the local circuit and others who ventured further afield.

Among the major winners on the night were Erin Wardle and Amelia Logan, whose respective mounts, First Delilah and the 12-year-old first ridden piebald gelding Fielden Real McCoy, claimed the top two spots on the season’s points’ table. Starter stakes rider Wardle and her mother Zara’s 14-year-old show hunter bay mare, whose breeding is unknown, also claimed the provincial mini pony of the year title.

Five other provincial champions were honoured. Casey-Lee Millar partnered the show hunter pony of the year Out Of The West (Lehid Canal Prince - Farranderry Lucy Liu, by Desarbe Falcon). The seven-year-old 133cm grey Irish Sport Pony gelding, who was bred in Co Tipperary by Katie Hehir, also picked up the Area’s highest-placed Irish-bred overseas award.

Ridden by Harriet McCann for Amy Sloan, the show pony of the year was the 12-year-old black gelding Strinesdale Genius (Strinesdale Mastermind - Strinesdale Renaissance, by Sedgelands Masquerade). Under Sophia Campbell who was riding for her mother Penny, the Mountain and Moorland ridden pony of the year was the Henry Judge-bred eight-year-old Connemara gelding Oxhill Andreas (Oxhill Mairtin - Tonys Girl, by Kingstown Boy).

Sienna Savage was presented with a special award as the Area’s most improved working hunter rider of the year. The majority of her excellent results came on board the working hunter pony of 2025, the Lawrence Tully-bred 15-year-old Connemara mare Follis Princess (Monaghstown Prince - Dunguaire Roxy, by Robe Earl). The most improved flat rider of the year was Elizabeth McCann.

Parkgate’s Elaine Sherrard was presented with the 2025 breeders’ award. One of her many victorious ponies this season was the youngstock champion of the year, the yearling show hunter pony Parkhill Garnacho (Centurion Bolero - Parkhill Araminta, by Mynach Arian).

Joanne Savage, Mary McDonnell, Peter McDonnell, Jaunty-Beau McDonnell, Sienna Savage and Kieran Savage at the IPS Northern Area awards night

Also honoured were those who, led by chef d’equipe Stuart Murphy, were on the inter-country team at the British Show Pony Society summer championships at Arena UK, Grantham in August, viz Ellie Murphy, Emmalee Turley, Lucy Donnan, Amelia Logan, Casey-Lee Millar, Holly Logan and Phoebe Beaumont. Murphy and Logan along with Zoe Price, Esther Lowry and Amelia McCartan were presented with magnetic stable door nameplates to mark their achievement in qualifying for the Horse of the Year Show.

Jessica Murphy, Lucy Donnan and Emmalee Turley at the IPS Northern Area awards night

Awards were also presented to those winners in the local Silver League which, run by the Northern Area, was open also to non-IPS members who had to compete at two of the three Area shows to be eligible for prizes. Vital funds for the Area’s 2026 season were raised during the night’s raffle.

BSPS Team: chef d'equipe Stuart Murphy alongside team members Holly Loga, Phoebe Beaumont, Ellie Murphy, Lucy Donnan, Amelia Logan, Emmalee Turley and Casey-Lee Millar at the IPS Northern Area awards night