THIS is going to be a very hectic weekend with the Mackey/Irish Pony Club national hunter trials championships taking place today at the Furnell family’s Ballycahane Equestrian in Co Limerick while, all weekend, members of Area 17 of The Pony Club will converge on Castle Irvine, Necarne for the Barrier Animal Health Spring Festival.

The huge team of organisers, officials and volunteers involved in running the hunter trials championship will be in place early as the first tack inspection at the Crecora venue is due to commence at 8am.

There are 10 classes listed with the No 1 duo in the Under 12 pairs championship – the busy Olivia Roche joined by fellow Duhallow member Brian Daly – scheduled to start at 8.30am. The day’s action will conclude when the Co Clare Branch’s Jack Hanrahan, No 372, crosses the finish line in the senior singles championship on Thornhill Pippa.

In Co Fermanagh, where they are holding their second dedicated Spring Festival, members will compete in arena eventing, dressage and show jumping. There are team competitions in the three disciplines along with numerous individual classes from PC70 level up to PC110 in show jumping and Open level in dressage. The highest level in arena eventing is PC100.

On Easter Monday, the East Downs held their popular Holmestead Saddlery Derby Day at Tyrella where two classes were won by the host Branch’s Daisy Murphy, daughter of Olympic event rider Joseph Murphy and his wife Jill. Daisy partnered the 19-year-old mare Bonecastle Lass, who is owned by Downpatrick publican Bartley Murphy and who she rode for the first time just two days earlier.