TOMORROW, the Carlow Hunt Branch is running the first of four qualifiers for the Irish Pony Club’s Winter Triathlon, the final of which takes place on Sunday, March 15th.

Just short of 200 entries have been received for this seasonal opener, from Seniors down to Fledglings, with the competitive action due to get under way just after 7am in the Graiguecullen swimming pool. Competitors will then move on to Carlow Hurling Club for the shoot and run phases.

Qualifying will also be staged over the following three Sundays by the Clare, Wexford and North Kilkenny Branches. Many members will be using this series to hone up their shooting, swimming and running skills ahead of the IPC’s Minimus and Tetrathlon seasons when the ride phase will be introduced.

Area 5 arena eventing competition

THE Araglen, Avondhu and United Hunt Branches of the Irish Pony Club are coming together to run an Area 5 arena eventing competition at Ballindenisk throughout March and into the first week of April.

Open to all IPC members, the competition will offer five classes from introduction level (50/60cms) up to a metre and will take place on Sunday March 1st, Saturday March 14th, Sunday March 29th and Easter Monday, April 6th.

Special prize for Pony Club riders

TODAY (Saturday), the final qualifying round takes place of the 2026 Baileys Horse Feeds flexi eventing series at The Meadows where a special prize is on offer for Pony Club members. Not too surprisingly, given the location of the venue and the size of their Branch, three of the top three Pony Club riders in the league are members of Iveagh.

The quartet, and overall leaderboard, are headed by Isaac McCarthy who, through his weekly attendance and brilliant results, has amassed 59 points on board Dawn Carlisle’s 19-year-old bay gelding Suirvalley Little Monkey.

While it seems certain that Isaac will be presented with the Pony Club prize by the sponsor’s Judy Maxwell, we must also mention his fellow Branch member Sarah Cowan who lies second in both spheres with Patrick Heskin’s seven-year-old Connemara gelding Gleann Rua Storm (48).

Fermanagh’s Tori Lilly has picked up 26 points to currently occupy 13th spot in the overall league with her mother Karin’s nine-year-old Connemara gelding Cloonhill Genius while Ella-Rose Sands is a further place back with her mother Danielle’s nine-year-old bay gelding Drumlane Dick (25).

In addition to those competing in the Baileys series, there were a lot of Pony Club members in action at The Meadows on Saturday as the Iveaghs ran arena eventing, dressage and show jumping qualifiers for the Barrier Spring Festival at Castle Irvine, Necarne over the final weekend of April.