THE Chairman’s Cup and Nations’ Cup Pony Club eventing competitions, which were staged during the recent Ballindenisk international horse trials, were a huge success.

Praise for the competitions from participants and their parents/guardians was, and continues to be, universal while it was great to see the co-operation between the Irish Pony Club and The Pony Club in supporting this ground-breaking initiative.

Also widely acknowledged was the input of Eventing Ireland’s youth committee, especially that from Fran Rowlatt-McCormick (Area 17’s Area representative), Carol Coad and David Nestor - all event horse owners whose children came through the Pony Club ranks.

“This initiative was very generously supported with bursaries from the George Mernagh Memorial Fund for each selected IPC member, along with much-appreciated and generous sponsorship from Connolly’s Red Mills, Foran Equine, Carr & Day & Martin plus private sponsorship,” commented the IPC’s Operations Manager Ivan Hatton, an event horse owner himself.

“A special mention must go to the Fell family for accommodating these competitions at the International. Thanks also to Jane O’Flynn, Debbie Byrne and Joanne Jarden for all the help, support and training that they provided to our members. What a weekend it was for the two teams of IPC members who competed. It was a great weekend of sport, camaraderie and special memories for all involved.”

As stated in the Ballindenisk reports last week, Ireland won the Nations’ Cup CNC2* competition. The team comprised the individual winner, Co Limerick’s Ben Buckley (Tullabeg Flamenco), United’s Isabel Fitzgerald (OLS Pixie Hollow), West Carbery’s Lucy O’Connor (Rowanhill Luka Chan), Tipperary’s Emily Fox (Tievendarragh Gem) and Duhallow’s Maeve Flynn (Orza SC).

It was a poignant success for 19-year-old Ben whose partnership with Sam Watson’s former Olympic ride is now at an end. The 16-year-old Tullabeg Fusion gelding has gone home to his owners, Ellie and George Kennedy, whose daughter Isabelle, another Co Limerick Branch member, is set to ride the dun under IPC rules in the future.

“Ben started competing Tullabeg Fusion in April last year and what a wonderful opportunity it was for him to ride such an experienced horse,” said Buckley’s mother Emma, who is District Commissioner of the Co Limerick Branch. “Apart from the blip at Dublin in August, Ben has enjoyed every minute competing with Tullabeg Fusion, recording wins in eventing and combined training.

“He absolutely loved competing at Ballindenisk with the whole three-day experience and the pressure of going into the show jumping in the lead. We would like to thank Carol Coad and Ivan Hatton for all the work they did in providing this opportunity to Pony Club members, who wouldn’t normally get to such an event.”

Ben was supported at Ballindenisk by Emma, his father Donnach and his siblings/fellow Co Limerick Branch members Harry (16) and Martha (13) - all hunting enthusiasts. He will now concentrate on two young geldings he is bringing on; one a four-year-old and one a Tullabeg Fusion gelding he purchased at Goresbridge.

Individual winner

The individual winner of the CNC1* competition was Henry Davis, a member of the Vale of Aylesbury Branch of The Pony Club, who, on board Rebel Edward, added four show jumping penalties to his brilliant dressage score of 16.3, beating the Killinicks’ Keira Crowther into second place on Tomoka Spots (25.7).

“We had the most fantastic trip to Ballindenisk, with a very memorable win for Henry,” commented the successful rider’s mother, Julia. “Henry turned 16 last week, so the trip to Ireland was his birthday present as it was for his twin brother Theo, who was also riding on the England team and had a super cross-country round.

“We had a great support team of their sister Ellie who was chief groom, younger brother Sebbie who was flag-bearer, myself as their day-to-day coach, their very supportive dad Alex and two sets of grandparents. In addition, we drove out the four Vale of Aylesbury Hunt Pony Club members, making a total party of 17 supporters!”

Henry had a great year on the 16-year-old Rebel Mountain gelding Rebel Edward, who is an Irish Sport Horse as were so many of the mounts of the visiting teams.