THE Agria Irish Pony Club national Minimus championships were held last weekend when torrential downpours on Saturday morning did their best to stop the opening ride phase going ahead at Killossery Lodge Stud. They failed to do so.

“We were meant to begin at 10am, but took the decision about 9.30am or so to push the start time back to 12 noon,” said the IPC’s chair of Tetrathlon John Flood who had assisted the Kildares’ T.J. Dillon in building and dressing the fences on the cross-country course, designed by Killossery’s Ciaran Glynn. “To ensure we got going, we had to take out one fence and trim a couple of hedges. We also extended the time allowed because of the ground conditions.”

On Sunday morning, the action moved on to K Leisure in Athy for the swim phase and from there to Stradbally Hall for the run after which the results were confirmed and announced. The prizes, sashes and rosettes were presented by the IPC’s chairman Michael Essame and Claire Goodwillie, Equine Marketing Partner with Agria.

The Swedish-owned equine insurance company Agria sponsors Olympic event rider Sarah Ennis, a former member of both the Ward Union and Howth Branches of the IPC who, in a promotional video prior to the championships, had wished all members good luck at the weekend.

With competitors prepared to take options or having problems on the track, only 16 of the 134 starters held on to their full ride score of 1,400 points. The ground held up well.

Impressed

We were pleased to read in a very concise report of their trip from England, that Emily Bright-Miles, whose son Murray (a member of the Old Surrey and Burstow Branch) finished third in the individual boys’ competition, was impressed by the competition and the venues. She also wrote of the ride phase: “We stood and watched awestruck as the first few riders expertly tackled the fences. It was inspiring to see the way the Irish rode with such fluency and determination.”

The John Flood team cup, and the Sisk cup for the highest-placed mixed team, was won by the Co Limerick Hunt Branch’s Stars quartet of Freya Barry, Ruth Cregan, Archie McCartan and Julianne Kennedy who amassed 11,108 points. Both Cregan and McCartan recorded clear rounds on the Irish Sport Horse gelding Carrageen Frankie, a seven-year-old dun by Anbally Frankie, and the 16-year-old grey gelding Strapping Silver respectively.

Another mixed team, the Duhallow Dashers finished second (10,626) with Jamie Cronin (Dromsligo Ros), Olivia Roche (Clonmoyle Tiger), Harvey Goold (Couldbee) and Aine Fleming (Dream Boy Of Eskylane) also being presented with the Co Clare team riding trophy for the highest ride score after three of the four members recorded clear rounds.

Girl power

The winners of the Sisk cup for the highest-placed all girls’ team was won by North Kilkenny Lionesses’ foursome of Pixie Murphy, Aoibhinn Manton, Molly Clarke and Nancy Lyons Teehan who finished fourth on 10,566. Members of this Branch helped launch the Agria championships back in early March. Murphy had a great day as she was also presented with the Sisk cup as the winner of the individual girls’ competition on 3,766 points.

Here, Scout Macgillivray of the Lanark and Upperwood Branch in Scotland posted the best swim score (1,240) but, as all cups and trophies can only be won by members of the IPC, stewardship of the Laura Breheny memorial trophy for the best girls’ swim will be shared between Murphy and the Duhallow Dashers’ Olivia Roche as they scored 1,192 points apiece. Roche finished third individually (3,694), immediately behind the Ward Union’s Ailbhe Reilly (3,696). Waterford Mix and Match’s Orlaith Frisby was presented with the Keira-Eva Mooney trophy for the best girls’ run (1,216).

In the boys’ individual competition, the overall honours for the Sisk cup were claimed by the Co Limerick Stars’ Archie McCartan (3,830), ahead of the Duhallow Dashers’ Jamie Cronin (3,544). The Warrington cup for the best swim (1,280) was won by the United’s Oisin O’Donnell, who finished fifth overall (3,450), while the Port of Cork trophy for the best run (1,228) was presented to the Golden Vale Vikings’ Breandán Purcell who finished fourth (3,500).

Well done to all who competed at the championships and to their parents/guardians who display equal commitment in bringing members training throughout the year and to competitions. John Flood was also keen to thank the 70+ volunteers who gave of their services over the weekend.