THE Co Limerick Hunt Branch of the Irish Pony Club recorded a double at last Sunday’s hugely successful Golden Vale Fun Minimus competition which was sponsored by the Boomerang Horse and Country Store.

Archie McCartan topped the overall leaderboard when amassing 3,658 points to fend off Tipperary’s Dave Hennessy (3,574) and the hosts’ Breandán Purcell (3,402) in the boys’ event. Although he lost 60 points in the concluding ride phase at Crossogue Equestrian, McCartan had earlier won (1,192) the swim phase at the Thurles Leisure Centre before dividing the spoils in the run phase at Thurles racecourse with Hennessy (1,126 apiece).

In the girls’ competition, the honours went to McCartan’s clubmate Julianne Kenny (3,596) ahead of Duhallow’s Olivia Roche (3,584) and The Kingdom’s Grainne Donegan (3,558), all three of whom held on to their full quota of ride points (1,400). The swim phase was won by Roche (1,160) while Orlaith Frisby, a member of the Waterford Branch, topped the scores in the girls’ run (1,162).

All prizes from Sunday will be presented at next weekend’s IPC Agria National Minimus Championships which get underway on Saturday with the ride phase at Killossery Lodge Stud. On the Sunday, participants will first head to K Leisure in Athy for the swim and then to Stradbally Hall for the run and prize-giving ceremony.

Tomorrow, IPC members will be heading to Ballon for the next leg of this year’s Connolly’s Red Mills eventing series which is being hosted by the Carlow Branch at Lisgarvan House.