RIDING for her mother Sarah, Co Armagh’s Lauren O’Rourke won on two Irish-bred ponies at last week’s British Show Pony Society’s summer championships at Grantham.

She topped the final line-ups in the ‘Harvey’ John Peel Blue Riband 123cm show hunter pony of the year class and the Heritage nursery stakes working hunter class (going reserve champion) on the Sharon Walsh-bred seven-year-old grey gelding Pineview Remeo (Barrera Duke Of Windsor - Dryfe Sceptre Fantasy, by Tangle Wood Fantasy).

Her second ride was the Goldengrove Stud-bred six-year-old bay mare Goldengrove Dancing Spirit (Wycroft Rainbow Dancer - Moorgate Highhopes, by Kilvington Scoundrel), on whom she won the BSPS ‘Cottam & Leech’ novice 133cm show hunter pony class.

Lauren travelled over to Grantham with her parents, Sarah and Aaron, plus brother Brian and sister Rachel, who have already marked the championships into next year’s calendar.

They proudly wore their Ireland gilets (sponsored by Caffrey Transport and presented to every child on the trip, competing or not) and joined the Irish parade on the Saturday evening, alongside Lauren and the rest of the Irish crew in Lincolnshire.

Rachel is also a member of the Northern Area of the Irish Pony Society and hopes to compete next year on her own pony Prince Caspian.