IRELAND has a pool of talented riders in all divisions and this is especially so in the competitive pony and young rider arenas.

In the amateur and pro-am division, there is also an abundance of riders who impressed last year.

Here we take a look at just some of the many riders who stood out on the national circuit in 2019 and doubtless there will be more to come in 2020.

In the 128cm division, 11-year-old Isobel Sheehan upped the ante in the last year. A few years back, this young rider from Kilkenny won the Glencarraig league, the Make A Wish in Cavan and the Michael Morrisey for two years in a row with her pony Flash Dance.

This year, she went on to win the 128cm Championship in Dublin with He’s A Touch Of Magic. Under some of the toughest competition in the daunting main arena, she delivered the only double clear to take victory.

Although Touch Of Magic had no shortage of experience, Isobel competed on him for the first time at the RDS qualifier at Barnadown and claimed victory. After her win in Dublin, she continued to clock up results and among them was a win in the 1m jump-off at Cavan October 2 Day Autumn Pony Show with Hes a Touch of Magic and she posted a series of results with Eastend Reggie, a pony which she produced herself from the off.

In October, she won the Grand Prix in Cavan. Isobel has no shortage of support, with both her parents having competed in ponies. Isobel’s uncle, Ronan, competed the first Cuffesgrange pony and her father, Brian, won a European Championship medal. Isobel’s mum Zelda won the 148cm Millstreet Derby. Isobel is trained by Eddie Moloney.

Winner of the 128cm in Balmoral for two years in a row, 11-year-old Alanna Fagan is also moving up the ranks. In 2019 she booked her place to Dublin Horse Show when she took sixth in the qualifier at Cavan with Kiltormer Ruby.

Following a great performance at Dublin, she finished in sixth place with Kiltormer Ruby. With a series of impressive results over the course of the week, Alana was awarded the leading rider pony combination.

At the TRI Pony Championships, the combination took the win in the 128cm pony Premier. Alanna has proved very consistent in this division and more recently in the 148cm on Rosies Ralph and Derravaragh Mocha. Again, there is plenty support there for this talented rider and you can expect to see her excel in all pony divisions and in the Children on Horses division this year. Alanna is under the expert eye of her dad, Robert Fagan of Mullingar Equestrian Centre.

One rider really making ground is 12-year-old Katie Nallon. The sister of Ciaran Nallon, without a doubt she will be looking to match her brother’s impressive record.

Katie, who is from Ballina, in Co Mayo is based at Bally Lodge Stables. Starting at the age of six, she has had tremendous success in 128cm division on ponies such as Rashers and Sausages and Piggy Bank, clocking up wins in Grand Prix and pony premier classes.

At Millstreet International Horse Show, Katie and Piggy Bank were crowned U10 young champions of Ireland. Riding her pony Jim, she competed in the main arena in 2018 and 2019. She has since moved on from 128cms and is already showing great form in other categories. Now, she is competing in the senior arena with Bally Fair Deal.

This mare was her brother’s previous mount, but as he has taken up a position with Bourns Sport Horses in Belgium, she has taken over the ride. Katie has risen to the challenge with impressive results at 1.10m and 1.20m level already and placings at Cavan International in November. Katie is trained by her father Richie and her mum Sandra.

Westmeath’s Francis (Frano) Derwin is one to keep a close eye on with wins at home and abroad. In the 148cm division, Francis and Rincoola Babog clocked up a series of strong results. The combination has got their season off to a very good start, securing victory in the Plusvital Spring Tour in Portmore. They were part of the Irish squad at Opglabbeek and finished ninth in the Grand Prix. In the CSIOCh – Opglabbeek, he finished fourth with Strictly Fernhill.

In June he also took the win with Rincoola Babog in the Coolmore Premier Series final at Maryville. Riding Cul Ban Mistress, Derwin was part of the Irish team which took gold in the Under 16 Pony Show Jumping at the 2019 European Championships at Strzegom, Poland. The combination also won the Grand Prix in Hagen. What is most impressive about this young rider is his progression onto horses. In Cavan, he won the 1.40m Snaffles Derby with Jaque Mate. He has also clocked up a series of results in the horse arenas with Balou Beau and Florida Springs.

Based in Swords where he is involved in the family business, Luke Garrigan impressed this year, taking the win in the Showjumpers Club Spring Tour. Garrigan went into the final round 13.1 points ahead of his closest rival at the final at Warrington. He had a very good career in ponies and formed part of the European team that took the silver medal in Malmo with Dr Spot. In 2018, he was part of the SJI Young Riders Academy and was under the guidance of his mentor, Malahide coach and international sport horse agent Barry O’Connor.

From Waterford, business student Orla Queally enjoyed a great season in 2019. She is a graduate from the pony ranks, where she had a successful career with Knockroe Clover Mor, who she produced herself. This combination went onto much success in the pony ranks, finishing sixth and fourth in the six/seven-year-old class in Dublin, being the top placed six-year-old pony in the championship.

In the 2019 RDS Young rider RDS qualifiers, Orla took the challenge in her stride. In the round in Barnadown, she led the victory lap Fontanel Van T & L. This came on the back of her second-place finish in Maryville in the 1.10m-1.15 division with North Alain.

In Dublin she collected third and fourth place with North Alain, while she took the runner-up place in the final of the 1.35m with Fontanel Van T & L. Following a great Dublin, Orla was awarded the leading young rider at Dublin Horse Show. She was also consistently placed in The ISH Studbook Classes and the senior arena. She also took fourth in the Welcome Stakes in Cavan International in November with Fontanel Van T&L. Orla is helped by her father John, who was a champion jockey, and Waterford international show jumper Paddy O’Donnell.

One pro-am rider making real strides last year was Sara Gorman. Sara, who is from Gorey, won the Mervue Equine Leinster 1.10 Summer Tour, along with the runner-up in the pro-am section. She is no stranger to success and among her good results was winning the amateur speed class in the RDS in 2018. Last year they won the National Speed Title for the second year running, along with the Leinster 1.10, Leinster Amateur Speed and Leinster Amateur AA titles.

Unfortunately, her season was cut short from a bad fall at the start of August, but she will no doubt return to the winner’s enclosure very soon. Her horse, Take A Gamble, (Dug) was originally purchased from Mervyn Clark by Fiach Byrne when he was a four-year-old and she bought him three years later from Fiach. In the RDS 2018 they won the Speed Class on the Saturday morning. Last year, they won the National Speed Title for the second year running, along with the Leinster 1.10m, Leinster Amateur Speed and Leinster Amateur AA titles.