THE Iveagh Branch’s grounds on the Moyallon Road, Portadown was the venue last Friday evening for a very successful Area 17 combined training competition where the emphasis was on the two qualifiers for the Pony Club combined training championships at the Dublin Horse Show.

The two Intermediate riders taking on nine Irish Pony Club members at the Ballsbridge showgrounds in August are the East Downs’ Caoimhe Crozier and the East Antrims’ Jessica Mark while the East Antrims’ Erin McCrea and Iveagh member Sarah O’Shea are due to contest the Open championship. Jessica and Erin both qualified for the Intermediate championship last year as did Sarah in 2023 when she also contested the Open championship.

The organisers were keen to express their thanks to all those who helped in any way to run Friday’s fixture and, no doubt, many of those volunteers will be back in action tomorrow at The Meadows for the Area dressage and at Dirraw Farm this day week for the Area Eventing.