THE three big winners at the Irish Pony Society Wicklow Area awards function, which was held in Polo Wicklow on Sunday, November 16th, were the Mini Pony of the Year Mungret Boy, the overall Pony of the Year Fiona’s Fionn and the Rider of the Year, Aoibhinn Grimes.

Maria Tyrrell’s Fiona’s Fionn, who was on Ireland’s bronze medal-winning team at the 2019 European pony eventing championships, didn’t compete under Eventing Ireland rules this year but did so with the Irish Pony Club. The grey finished fifth, and won the dressage phase, in his Junior Arena at the Connolly’s Red Mills national championships at Tattersalls Ireland in August.

There he was ridden by Shillelagh Branch member Tristan Kelly who, before being presented with the Pony of the Year award at Polo Wicklow for his showing season on the 17-year-old son of Monaghanstown Fionn, also won the Mountain and Moorland, the working hunter pony and the Connemara of the Year Area titles. Fiona’s Fionn, who is out of the Carrantubber Lad mare Gortnaphisey Fiona, was bred in Co Laois by Cait Ui Loinsigh.

One might have thought that Kelly would have also been presented with the Rider of the Year award but, riding for her mother Louise, young Aoibhinn Grimes claimed that accolade. She had a brilliant season with the lead rein ponies Waitwith Texas Gold, a six-year-old palomino gelding by Bethei Rhodri, and the 13-year-old chesnut gelding Cheeky Charlie Five, who has no recorded pedigree.

En route to landing the overall Mini Pony of the Year award, Gillian Halpin’s Mungret Boy claimed the mini working hunter pony title under the owner’s daughter Harper, winner of the 2025 young handlers’ award. Harper and the six-year-old Hilin Renoir gelding were also among the winners at the Welsh Pony and Cob Society Ireland’s awards night last month.

The Area’s show hunter pony of 2025 was Sean Redmond and Aine Geoghegan’s Holthall Gladiator, who had two riders during the season. These were C J Greene, who partnered the Welsh gelding in open lead rein classes, and the owners’ son Fionn Redmond, who was on board the eight-year-old roan son of Islyn Bond in first ridden competitions.

Charlotte Goor had some excellent results during the year with Underhill Bobcat and Ardville Whispering Hope (second in her Intermediate working hunter pony class at the Horse of the Year Show in October), but failed to match those of Jessica Glass on the performance pony of 2025, Paddy Tom.

This 10-year-old Connemara gelding by I Love You Melody was bred in Co Mayo by Thomas Mulloy out of the Annilaun Oscar mare Kelly Angel.