SIX families from England, Scotland and Wales involved with Minimus in the UK Pony Club travelled over to Ireland last weekend to mainly enjoy a day’s hunting with the Golden Vale Foxhounds alongside friends from the Irish Pony Club who, likewise, had attended both the Irish and British Minimus championships last summer.

“It was a brilliant weekend,” said John Flood, the face and voice of Minimus and Tetrathlon in the IPC who hunted himself out of Templetuohy as did some of the parents, both home-based and visiting. While he very much enjoyed his weekend in Tipperary and is looking forward to the first of the IPC’s Triathlon qualifiers next month, it proved difficult to talk to John this week as he hunts at every opportunity.

Happily, the visitors quickly uploaded a report of their trip, and lots of photographs, to social media where Kirstie MacGillivray and Emily Bright first paid tribute to the generosity of the Purcell family who had sorted out horses, ponies and transport. They then explained how they spent Saturday.

“A couple of great Irish senior Tet boys (Alex Maher and Leo Cleere) greeted us with beaming smiles. Fresh from riding racehorses in the morning, they were now revved up and ready to go with our fresh looking steeds! They took us out for a little ‘ride’. Our expectation for the session was to check size of riders on ponies and have a little walk and trot around. How wrong could we be?

“Off we went at a gallop, down woodland tracks, across drains, over logs, whilst being merrily cheered on by the lads... Buzzing, we headed back to the hotel, where Barbara (an Irish Tet mum) had organised a pool party - 15 kids in a pool finding out that the best way to get to know each other is to use swimming noodles as weapons.

“Dinner together in the hotel brought lots of hilarity, but also a bit of nervousness from the British mums (and dad!), who had said they would also ride the next day.

“On Sunday morning, after a tasty Irish breakfast, we headed to the yard to sort horses... The Golden Vale Hunt gave us all such a warm welcome - and the dreich weather did not dampen any spirits. Everyone was mounted and we were off. Most of the parents did not really see their children for the rest of the day, as they were up near the front with all their new Irish friends. Whenever we did catch a glimpse of them, they were grinning from ear to ear and having the time of their lives. Lots of things were jumped, a few scary drains crossed - including a double of drains - the horses never put a hoof wrong!

“A presentation was made by the UK Tetrathletes to Michael Costigan, Golden Vale Hunt Chairman and Frank Roche, Joint Chairman of Irish Pony Club Tetrathlon. A donation will be made to the Irish Cancer Society. The Irish Pony Club raised over €50,000 for the cause in the last year.

“Unfortunately, some had to rush back to the airport, but the rest of us were lucky to stay on and enjoy yet more Irish hospitality in the pub, where soup and sandwiches were most welcome. Huge thanks to Emily Bright, who started with an idea and made it happen, huge thanks also to John Flood, who confessed at dinner on Sunday evening that it all went so much better than he expected and huge thanks to our Irish hosts - the Golden Vale Hunt, the Purcell family and everyone who helped make this weekend such brilliant fun.

“Very well done to our children - Murray, Erin, Darcy, Sam, George and Scout - who were great ambassadors for Tetrathlon and took on the weekend with gusto! We have been completely blown away by the incredible generosity and hospitality that we have been shown, the efforts people have gone to and the spirit it was done with has been something we will all never forget.

“We will always be extremely grateful to the new friends we’ve made across the Irish Sea.”