THE North Kilkenny Branch of the Irish Pony Club held their first hunter trials on Easter Monday at Nuenna Farm where there was a big entry as the organisers had opened up the entry system again on Good Friday following the cancellation of the Laois Hunt hunter trials at Stradbally.

The main organiser was the North Kilkenny’s fantastic Health and Safety Officer Maura Murphy who was backed up by a very active committee and the day’s chief steward Sally McGuire. There are plenty of great photographs of the day’s action taken by John O’Carroll including one of Nora Costigan with her daughters Sarah and Julie following their win for the host Branch in the Novice Junior pairs’ competition.

The other pairs’ classes were won by the Wexfords’ Sadbh Roche and Julie Kinsella (Under 12), the Tipperarys’ Patrick O’Callaghan and Jack Landy (Junior), the Wexfords’ Tom and Emma Hickey (Intermediate) plus Anna O’Callaghan and Harry Barton who won the Senior pairs competition for the Tipperary Branch.

The Wexfords were also on the mark in the individual classes through Lydia Murphy (Under 12), the Louths got on the scoresheet thanks to Charlotte Carroll (Novice Junior), the North Kilkennys’ Emma Lennon won the very well-filled Junior individual class, Grace Day, a member of the Killinick Branch, won the Intermediate section while Tipperary’s Anna O’Callaghan recorded a double when winning the individual class at Senior level.

While a large number of members are competing in today’s Mackey/IPC national hunter trials championships in Co Limerick, others will be looking forward to the Duhallow Branch’s fun Minimus and Tetrathlon which is taking place on Bank Holiday Monday, May 5th.

The swim phase will be held at Fermoy Leisure Centre while the other disciplines are all being catered for by the Fell family at Ballindenisk where, this weekend, many former – and some present – Pony Club members are competing in the international horse trials. Cross-country action is on both days so the Watergrasshill venue is well worth a visit.