THERE’s plenty happening in Area 17 of The Pony Club (Northern Ireland) where qualifying continues for the Barrier Animal Health Spring Festival of arena eventing, dressage and show jumping at Castle Irvine, Necarne over the final weekend of April (25th and 26th).

The first of the 2026 Area Triathlon (running, swimming and shooting) qualifiers took place last Sunday at Omagh Leisure Centre where it was hosted by the Fermanagh Hunt Branch and attracted over a dozen starters from Branches affiliated to the Irish Pony Club.

The Killultagh Branch fielded three winners during the day, viz Emma Stewart (Open Girls), Annabelle McKeown (Junior Girls) and James McKeown (Minimus). There were two contrasting winners for the Route Branch, Sam Staats Howard claiming the honours in the four-runner Open Boys’ section, while Tom McMorrow saw off 20 rivals to win the Beanies’ class. There were wins also for the Iveaghs’ Ted Geary (Junior Boys) and the East Antrims’ Georgia Smyth (Tadpoles).

The Route Branch is staging the second qualifier next Sunday, January 25th, at the Joey Dunlop Centre, Ballymoney.

Another non-riding Pony Club activity which will get members motivated for the season ahead is On Foot Polocrosse training, which is being run by the North Down Branch at Comber Leisure Centre.