THE local pony classes at the recent, hugely successful show run by the Kildare/North Leinster Region of the Irish Pony Society at Tattersalls Ireland were sponsored by the Dublin Dog Hub.

The dog shelter, which is based at Meakstown, Finglas, is owned and run by the 1992 Eurovision Song Contest winner and animal welfare advocate Linda Martin who attended the show, presenting the local pony championship prize to Ellie Maguire on Poppy, winners of the veteran pony class.

Linda was accompanied to Tattersalls by one of the Hub’s senior residents, Goofy, who is looking for a new home. He had a great day and was the talk of the show, meeting and greeting, watching the ponies compete and enjoying his lunch of chicken goujons!

One person Goofy didn’t have to be introduced to was Mhairi Rawluk, chairperson of the KNL Area and very much associated with this show along with her mother Rena, show and Area secretary, and her brother Daniel who was involved with preparing the ground and laying out the rings.

“I’ve been with Linda since she officially opened the Dublin Dog Hub last February,” revealed Mhairi who is a busy General Practitioner in north Co Dublin. “I volunteer at weekends and, while I originally started out dog walking, I’m now social media guru for the Hub. Linda thought the show was ‘buzzing with people in a friendly atmosphere’ and she can’t wait to come back next year.”