MANY congratulations to Billy Aherne, a former member of the West Waterford Branch of the Irish Pony Club, who made a successful riding debut on the point-to-point circuit at the United Foxhounds’ meeting in Ballindenisk last Saturday.

The win came in the concluding adjacent hunts’ maiden on the British-bred gelding Vodka Splash, who the rider’s father Garry trains for a good family friend, Charlie Moore. The bay, who had some placed form to his credit, was having his first run for his present connections on Saturday.

Seventeen-year-old Billy, who is in Fifth Year at Coláiste an Craoibhín in Fermoy, was a keen participant in Minimus competitions during his Pony Club days and very much enjoyed going to the annual camp, which he found very educational. He was also well-known in Show Jumping Ireland circles and had particularly good results with the 148cm Colour Cruise mare Glebe Plunkett Rose.