Emer Bermingham

2015 was another successful year of pony riders and children on horses and last Saturday, these riders along with their parents, friends and supporters, celebrated their success at the National Pony Awards at the Newpark Hotel in Co Kilkenny.

Opening the evening and welcoming almost 400 guests was SJI national chairperson of ponies, Liz Brennan who was assisted in the ceremony by Tony Hurley, Greg Broderick, Reece St John, Keith Griffin and Michael Blake.

The first of the recipients to receive their awards in the national classes from sponsor Reece St John was the top three riders in the CWD Spring tour. In the 128cms division, Tom Wachman, Max Foley and Natasha Kerr were each awarded for their placings, while in the 138cms section, Kate Derwin, Harry Allen and Jack Ryan were presented with their awards.

In the 148cms section, winner Patrick Hickey, followed by the runner-up Hannah O’Shea accepted their award, while sharing third place Cormac Foley and Oisin Aylward also stepped up to the podium.

One of the most competitive classes on the national calendar, the three top placed riders in the Premier series were awarded for their success with presentations by outgoing SJI chairperson Tony Hurley.

First on to the podium was the 128cms winner Francis Derwin followed by the runner-up John McEntee and then Rhys Williams, Amy Reape and Ellie May Cassidy who shared third place in the league.

Kate Derwin, Harry Allen and Jack Ryan were back on the podium with Derwin claiming an award for her second place finish in the 138cms Premier Series and Harry Allen who finished third. Jack Ryan also took an award for his third place finish in the 148cms here.

Picking up awards was the under 10 winner Kate McEntee, runner-up Coen Williams and third-placed Aine Shortall.

Jason Foley had a tremendous year and took his first award as winner of the 138cms Premier Series. This was Foley’s fourth year in a row to take the league. Winner of the 148cms Premier Series, Cormac Foley was awarded for his impressive performance as was Mikey Pender, who finished in second place.

Along with the riders, winning ponies were also acknowledged for their performances. The Leading Premier Pony in the under 10 category was Castle Quarter Stables’ Castle Quarter Hero, campaigned by John McMahon. In the 128cms, it was Louise McEntee’s Star Spangled that took the honours while in the 138cms, it was the Foley’s pony Kiltormer Hero who took the honours. In the 148cms Marguerite Ryan’s Sixmilewater Blaze’s impressive performance saw him clinch the accolade.

Irish riders have an outstanding recorded in the Home Pony International and it came as no surprise that 48 recipients received awards for their achievements.

In the Starfinder, Oisin Aylward (Coppenagh Oliver Twist) took the leading award while the top placed Connemara was Maumeen Miley campaigned by Jack McKeon.

RDS Champions

The RDS champions were honoured for the second time as they also picked up awards on the night. In the 128cms championships, Francis Derwin’s determination saw him take the title with his second mount of the jump-off, Buchaille Baire was honoured with the first award. Jason Foley was next to take an award as winner of the the 138cms division. Foley’s impressive performance with Kiltormer Hero saw him take the title from the 2014 winner Kate Derwin.

Jennifer Kuehnle was honoured for her win in the 148cms championship having produced one of the two double clears of the class with Sandra Duffy’s Our Foreman to take the title.

In the 148cms six/seven-year-old division, the top six-year-old award went to Maurmeen Miley and Jack McKeon while the top seven-year-old award went to Paddy Bligh’s Castlehill Lass, ridden by Robbie Clancy

Winner of the Leading Pony Rider award at Dublin and the 138cms champion title at the National Championships, Jason Foley, was the deserving winner.

National Championships

This year the national champions in Mullingar saw a host of riders walk away with titles and they enjoyed the spotlight picking up their awards from international show jumper Greg Broderick.

Winners here included Jessica Baxter and Greenfield Mayflower (128 50cms), Pierce Costello and Lord of the Night (128 60cms), Benjamin Moore and Glasson Royal Gold (128 70cms), Emma O’Connor and Are You Nearly There Yet (128 80cms), Aaron Killora and Barrera Star Attraction (128 90cms), Carragh Charlton and Rotherwood Dinky Toy (128 1m), Erin Crawford and Drumaghey Boy (128 1.15m) and the 128 under 10 winner Martha Hughes Bravo and Cocky Rocky.

Award winners in the under eight team was Chloe Hughes Kennedy, Jane Brennan, Robyn McOwen and James Brennan. The under 10 team award winners were Fiachra Mahony, Daniel Kerins, Annie Gibson and Sarah Jayne Reynolds.

Winners included Brendan Lynch and Tinnacarrig Ben (138 80cms), Kathryn Morton and Tynan Espresso (138 90cms), Chloe Fagan and Simply the Best Tyson (138 1m), Conor Costello and Golden Copper (138 1.10m), Kate Derwin and Small Titan (138 1.25m), Olivia Roulston and Drumdoit V Tec (148 90cms), Jack Ryan and Holiday Hop On (148 1m), Olivia Roulston and Sparkling Apache Gold (148 1.10m), Jack Ryan and Clonmoyle Cowboy (148 1.20m), Michael Pender and Cul Ban Mistress (148 1.35). The National Discovery winner for four/five-year-olds was Michael Pender and Fireman.

The National Pony Leagues saw some familiar faces accept their awards. Winner of the 128cms division was Olivia Shanahan (Baronagh Boy) while the 138cms winner was Katie Power (Glountane Beauty). Olivia Roulston added to her tally as she took the top prize with Drumdoit V Tec in the 148cms.

Accepting the under eight/10 National Discovery League awards was Alex McMaster (Master Valentine) and Olivia Shanahan (Baronagh Boy).

This year the Chillax league came to an exciting conclusion in Barnadown. The winners of the six individual leagues were amongst those accepting awards. In the 128 four/five-year-old, the winner was Emma O’Connor (Are We Nearly There Yet). In the 128 six/seven-year-old, it was Maddy Norris (Essenar Eaney Meaney). In the 138 four/five-year-old it was J. Naughton (Kiltiernan Island) who claimed the accolade while the 138 six/seven-year-old Amy Reape (Youghal Paddy) took the award here. Winners in the 148 four/five-year-old category was Holly Anne Sweetman (Hurricane Spartacus) while in the 148 six/seven-year-old joint winners, Olivia Roulston (Springview Mistique & Gavin Daly (Red News Jnt) claimed this award.

The under 10 provincial rising stars were honoured on the night and they received a great response from the audience. The Munster award winner was Liam Buckley while Timmy Brennan was awarded the Leinster region prize, Connaught and Ulster awards went to Lucy Morton.

The Springboard Finals award winners included Sarah Fitzgerald (Gleenkeen Irish Pride); in the under 10s, Alexandra Hourigan (Twin Cam) claimed this award while in the 128cms division, James McOwen (Leiter Ben) in the 138cms, J. Naughton (Star Appraisal) took another award having won the 148cms division.