ANOTHER exceptional year of equestrian action in Millstreet was brought to a close last weekend as the Duggan family and the Millstreet team hosted the 32nd Owners’ Pony and Young Riders Charity Show.

Hosted at the Green Glens Arena at no charge for nearly 20 years, close to €350,000 has been donated to a growing list of charities since the show was established; primarily in the areas of children and animals.

Organising committee member Ciara Holland was delighted to report that the 2018 show was one of the most successful yet, with nearly 3,500 entries received and over 600 horses and ponies stabled on site during the weekend.

A small but dedicated group of people put the show together every year and the committee are particularly grateful to those who supported the 2018 edition by sponsoring classes, making donations, supporting the Charity Auction or giving their time during the weekend as a judge or volunteer.

Nadia Rea and Paddy McCarthy of Horse Sport Ireland were on hand on Sunday to present special awards in each of the pony Grand Prix classes to the two highest placed ponies that were registered in an approved studbook.

Currently on the sidelines but keeping up to date with the show was show jumping judge Jimmy Ivers. Known to many as the ‘small man with a big voice,’ Jimmy and his Johnny Cash music collection have been long-standing elements of the Owners’ Charity Show. The Waterford man is currently awaiting surgery to get him back on his feet and a variety of fundraising efforts are taking place to support him; including a raffle held during the show which contributed over €1,500 to the fund.

CORNERSTONE

The Owners’ Charity Show is one of the biggest of its kind and has become a cornerstone of the pony and young rider competition calendar.

Over 1,000 animals jumped each day across six competition arenas and the weather gods played their part; rain on Friday cleared away leaving largely cool and bright conditions for the remainder of the show.

On Saturday afternoon, nearly 60 pony riders assembled in the Indoor Arena for the annual parade of ‘Retiring Riders.’

Amongst those moving out of the pony ranks was Kilkenny-based Seamus Hughes-Kennedy; the overall winners of the 2017 FEI Pony Jumping Trophy in Mechelen, Belgium.

Hughes-Kennedy began his international career in the Millstreet Indoor two years ago and since then has taken victories on the continent in Fontainebleau, Opglabbeek and Lier.

Fresh from a Grand Prix win in Herning, Molly Hughes Bravo was also in the line-up of retiring pony riders along with fellow team member from the 2016 European Children on Horses Jumping Championship squad Robyn Fagan.

Already making his mark at senior level, Mayo’s Ciaran Nallon travelled to Millstreet to formally mark the end of his pony competition days.

Before the awards were presented, a stirring moment of applause echoed around the building as commentator Noel Coleman asked those present to remember their much missed fellow showjumper and friend Jack Dodd – a familiar face at past shows in Millstreet.

Having received their Retiring Rider awards, the action turned up a notch later in the evening as the fast-paced fancy dress relay competition brought a capacity crowd to their feet with an unlikely bunch of film and television characters, nuns, animals and familiar show-jumping riders taking part.