First Balmoral win

THE 2025 Balmoral Show marked a significant occasion in the life of Myia Latto as she recorded her first Balmoral win in the show pony lead rein class on her mother Andrea’s Welsh mare Chaseford Camelia. This is the young rider’s last year in lead rein company. Ridden by Alex Hemsley, Andrea Latto’s Manorlea Calipo, a seven-year-old cream gelding by Shawgreen Crackerjack, won the show’s sole ridden Mountain and Moorland class. The advertised two classes were combined when there was just one entry in the large breeds class.

O’Shaughnessy’s emphatic riding

NICOLE O’Shaughnessy may not have left last week’s Balmoral Show with a championship sash but the young Co Galway jockey was singled out for special mention as judges Henrietta Barton and Debbie Machin said she warranted a commendation and a £25 prize from the John Kirkpatrick legacy for her emphatic riding of Glendine Pied Piper in the show hunter starter stakes.

East Antrim Branch win again

FOR the third year in a row, the East Antrim Branch claimed the Wilkinson sword as winners of the UMEX Pony Club games which concluded Friday evening’s action in the Main Arena at last week’s Balmoral Show. The successful squad, who amassed a total of 22 points and won the turn-out award, comprised Alice Jones, Amy Reid, Hannah Kernohan, Sarah Wilson and Leigh Graham. The Iveagh Branch finished second (19), East Down were third (12) and Route fourth (seven). Connolly’s Red Mills goodie bags were handed out to all.

Klatzko’s dressage display

HOPEFULLY, a lot of the pony riders will have taken an interest in the two dressage displays by Co Kildare-based Grand Prix rider Sorrell Klatzko which were staged in the P&O Ferries Arena on the Thursday of last week’s Balmoral show. Sorrell rode her young star Gladiator, a nine-year-old home-bred Irish Sport Horse gelding by Sir Sansibar, and the movements were explained to spectators by Anita McLoughlin. For the morning display, Sorrell wore a training outfit and rode Gladiator in a snaffle while in afternoon, she wore whites and her mount was in a double bridle.