TWO former members of the Irish Pony Club, who also competed with other equestrian organisations, partnered their first winners in racing last weekend.

On her 19th ride, Emily Grifferty landed the mile and a half apprentice handicap at Dundalk on Friday evening on the John McConnell-trained 50/1 shot Syosset, a four-year-old Crystal Ocean gelding bred by Stephen Lanigan O’Keeffe.

Emily, who has been apprenticed to Noel Meade for a year, competed under Showjumping Ireland rules in 2021 and 2022, mainly on the 148cm Kilmore Diamond gelding Glencroft Clover Diamond, who is now the mount of Saoirse Smith.

The 18-year-old was also an active member of the Louth Hunt Branch of the IPC and it was while attending main camp that, on a visit to Dundalk Stadium, Emily had her first spin around the all-weather track. She was on board her thoroughbred pony Lass and rode upsides the six-time champion jockey Colin Keane.

The latter was on a thoroughbred gelding belonging to the Branch’s joint-District Commissioner Sandra Cumiskey who describes Emily as a “good, tough, ambitious girl”.

Amazingly, Emily was the second young jockey to recently ride their first winner with whom Sandra had a previous interaction as Shane Markey, who also got off the mark at Dundalk late last month, was a pupil of hers at St Daigh’s National School, Inishkeen.