WHILE there is limited scope to compete in racing with the Irish Pony Club, in Great Britain there are far greater chances in a structured scheme.

This basically is broken into Race Days run by The Pony Club; The Racecourse Series, which are races run on some of the country’s top tracks such as Ascot and Cheltenham; and The Point-To-Point Series which is where our interest here lies. All races are run under the guidance and general umbrella of The Pony Racing Authority.

This season’s winner of the 2025 Equine Products UK Pony Racing Rider Championship with 112 points to his credit was Portman Hunt Branch member Jack Gundry whose father Charlie was an active member of the Berkeley Branch.

Jack’s mother Clare would be much more familiar to those involved in equestrianism and racing in Ireland as, under her maiden name MacMahon, she competed in most Pony Club activities as a member of the Meath Branch, going on to be one of the country’s top show horse riders and, of course, champion lady point-to-point rider in four consecutive seasons.

In amassing 112 points throughout the campaign, Jack rode in 13 races, winning seven of them and placing second in the other six. His mount Maesteg Ruth, a 15-year-old mare who has been racing for about 10 seasons, was crowned champion pony. Jack finished well clear of his nearest rivals, Memphis Tacy-Tyler (78), who has been racing since the 2021 season, and Chloe Fox-Pitt (70), daughter of William and Alice Fox-Pitt.

Jack, who is supported by PC Racewear, is not the only member of his family involved in the sport as his 10-year-old sister Rosie also started racing with the Pony Club this season, landing a winner first time out. As the season has ended, their two racing ponies are on a break as the siblings move to the showing scene for the summer.