THE 2026 Irish Pony Club Festival, which was held at Barnadown from Wednesday to Friday of last week, proved a huge success, helped in no small part by the wonderful weather and the massive team of volunteers required to run such an event.

Among those who visited the popular Co Wexford venue over the three days was Christina Keane, chair of the IPC’s executive committee, who commented: “This was my first attendance at the IPC Festival in my new role and I was delighted to be there.

“There was a fantastic atmosphere among the competitors, parents and supporters and the Festival was very well managed by a visible and helpful show committee.

“Huge thanks go to Maurice Cousins and his team, who went above and beyond to ensure it was a successful event for us at Barnadown EC.

“I was hugely impressed by the standard in the pure dressage competition. The competitors in the combined training were privileged to use the main grass arena for the show jumping phase, with a challenging but flowing course producing well-deserved winning partnerships.

“The team show jumping was fiercely competitive, our young members tackling the course expertly with the enthusiastic support of their teammates and family, however the roar from the mounted games supporters outdid them all. Many thanks go to our sponsors TRI Equestrian, Equieire and Treo Eile for their support.”

Alice Mernagh cup

The Under 12s’ show jumping took place on the Thursday, when 34 teams took on the 75cm track in a bid to secure the Alice Mernagh cup. Sixteen of those squads completed the two rounds on a zero score, with Killinick Green securing victory thanks to superb jump-off round by Eleana O’Grady on the 17-year-old dun 138cm gelding Cullane Biscuit.

Also on the winning team were Billy Scallan (Poynstown Eva), Scott Doran (Bilbo Baggins) and Rosie Scallan (Tyrrellspass Duchess). The Kildare Jelly Tots quartet of Adele Geoghegan, Amelia Duffy, Neala Grace and Gemma Walsh finished second, with third place on the podium being filled by the Wexford Yellow team of Éanna Kavanagh, Ciara Stafford, Lucy Kent and Rhys O’Brien McCarthy.

Disappointingly, Alice Mernagh couldn’t attend the Festival, so her cup was presented to the winning Killinick team by their Branch District Commissioner Larry O’Keeffe. The horsemanship award was won by the Bray Flying Fillies team of Katie Haines (Castlestrange Katie 4th), Abbey Cassidy (Darkly Julie), Maja Colhoun (Lisphelim Black Beauty) and Ana Grimes (Dunmore Roxy).

Ryan Hearne (Crystals Tiger Lily) and Maeve Griffin (Leagaun Colour), who finished first and second in the individual competition, ahead of the Duhallow Dashers’ Tom Boyle (Carnaboy Diamond), were members of the Kilkenny Kittens team, who won the turn-out award. Also on the team were Freya Farrell (Highwood Oak of Shanbo) and Max Williams (Doonkinane Dude).