MANY congratulations to Sadhbh Tormey who rode her first winner on the racecourse last Friday at her local track, Fairyhouse, just hours after sitting one of her Leaving Cert exams.

Until this year, Sadhbh was a member of the Ward Union Branch of the Irish Pony Club, competing in eventing, hunter trials and Tetrathlon, and before that, Minimus.

She also hunted a lot with the Wards and Fingal Harriers.

Her father Barry is one of the driving forces behind the Antler Challenge and Sadhbh rode in the 2023 Junior Challenge on the thoroughbred gelding Cobb And Co who she also competed in the thoroughbred class at that year’s Stepping Stones to Success League at Wexford Equestrian.

Now sadly deceased, Cobb And Co was ridden in last year’s Junior Challenge by Sadhbh’s sister Ailbhe who, aged 16, is an active member of the Ward Pony Club as is her year-younger sister Siún.

While she is now apprenticed to Co Meath trainer Tom McCourt, as is former show pony rider and last season’s champion apprentice James Ryan (another ex-Ward PC member), Sadhbh’s winner on Friday, Are You In Or Out, is trained by Paul Stafford.