THE Bray Hunt Branch of the Irish Pony Club celebrated its 65th anniversary last Friday evening at Devil’s Glen Equestrian, where there was a great mix of past and present members among the partygoers.

The Branch was founded in 1961 when the first District Commissioner was John Brown. He was followed by Dorothy Guilford, who filled the role for 30 years, Wendy Lee, Sarah McCrait (now Area 1 Representative) and the present incumbent Naomi Bates, whose deputy is Cathy Haines.

Branch secretaries over the years included Jane Ryall and Jane Power. The latter was at Devil’s Glen on Friday in the company of Branch supporters Louise Bloomer, Jane Kennedy and Hilary MacHugh. Also present were some of the landowners, who host Branch activities of which there were 130 in 2025, a number set to be surpassed this year.

While the adults enjoyed the social aspect of the celebrations, the younger partygoers took part in hobby-horsing and welly-throwing competitions and taking their turns on a buckaroo. Some had to be up early the next morning for the Area 1 show jumping Classic qualifier at the National Horse Sport Arena, Abbotstown.