THANKS to the efforts of chairperson Bianca Lennon and secretary Melissa O’Connor Murphy, the South Leinster/Waterford Area of the Irish Pony Society held a very successful awards night last Friday in the Amber Springs Hotel, Gorey.

This year’s winner of the Pony of the Year award was Captain Bailey who, en route to the overall accolade, also claimed the show hunter, novice working hunter and open working hunter Area titles for his delighted Co Kilkenny rider, Aoife Brennan.

Owned by Aine and Paul Brennan plus John Vaughan, the nine-year-old dun gelding, who has no recorded pedigree, topped the scores in the 143cm novice workers’ division, ahead of Dartans Jumping Jack Flash. The latter’s rider, Nancy Lyons Teehan, received special mention on the night following her great results this autumn at the Horse of the Year Show and Burghley.

Not only a mention, as she was also the delighted recipient of the Tiggy Cup which, in her daughter’s memory, was presented to the Area by Tiggy’s mother, Jane Hancock, to award a South Leinster/Waterford member ‘who has produced and shown young ponies in the season and shown outstanding achievements’.

On the Tiggy’s Trust Facebook page it stated: “Massive well done to Nancy Teehan taking home the Tiggy Cup from the SLW Irish Pony Society awards night. We have watched Nancy with her mum Louise Georgina Lyons working hard producing young ponies and getting some amazing results including her awesome win in HOYS this year. An ever-smiley and worthy winner.”

Also partnered by Brennan, Finola Nic An Iomaire’s home-bred Knockmenagh Elouise was crowned Connemara pony of the year. This six-year-old grey mare is a full-sister to the Grade A 128cm gelding Knockmenagh Rocco, being by I Love You Melody out of the Boden Park Finnard mare Flowing Mane II.

Riding a pair of Welsh geldings for her grandmother Marianne Power, Penny Toomey also won two Area awards. She claimed the mini show hunter title for her results on Rookery Haribo, an 11-year-old grey by Uphill James Fox, and the mini working hunter award with Rookery Boomerang, a 14-year-old chesnut by Crossways Jr.

Will Griffin won two overall Area awards with Leagaun Colour. He and the six-year-old skewbald mare topped the standings in both the performance jumping section and the starter stakes divison.

The Ella Connolly-ridden Teach Mór Dáire, who finished second to Captain Bailey in the open 143cm working hunter division, was crowned the Area’s Mountain and Moorland pony of 2025. A Connemara gelding by Teach Mor King, the 11-year-old bay was bred in Co Galway by Padraic Folan out of Blakehill Teachmor Marie (by Rebel Star).

The Intermediate title was contested by members of the Lennon and Murphy families. Numerically, Jessica Murphy had the advantage with Leestone Breaker and Darcy de Chanteloube, but it was Lucy Lennon who came out on top with the Ciara Woods-bred Irish Sport Horse gelding Mill Races Diamond. The 17-year-old Classic Vision bay is out of the Holycross mare Killacorns Diamond (by Holycross).

The other overall award-winning ponies were the Ethan Hogan Eyre-ridden, Claire Scott-bred Goldengrove Merlyn (equitation ridden), a nine-year-old bay gelding by Holyoake Czar - Merryment Maytime (by Rotherwood Prince Regent), and the Ellie Tallis-partnered 14-year-old dun mare Gortderryboy Sally (show pony). Abbey Cassidy won the year’s young handlers’ award.

Photographer John O’Carroll provided the entertainment with his ever-popular photo booth.