Leanne O’Sullivan

SIX Pony Club mounted games teams took to Ring 1 for the senior national championships and a chance to take home the coveted Leonard Perpetual Challenge Trophy.

As always, the mounted games competition attracted a phenomenal crowd, and these young riders would easily be forgiven for letting the atmosphere get to them, but disappoint they did not. The competition took off at a ferocious pace and mistakes of any kind were extremely costly.

The Shillelagh team were outstanding and finished the first day of competition with an eight-point lead ahead of the Laois Pony Club, who were closely followed by Monaghan.

A special mention must go to 10-year-old Igor Kaar, representing the Galway Pony Club. Kaar was called up to the senior team after his sister Izzy was injured earlier this summer, he played brilliantly on his RDS debut and will, no doubt, represent his club again in the future.

The overnight standings were very close and every team was in with a chance when the final sessions began on Sunday.

Laois impressed with their consistency, but Shillelagh led for 35 of the 36 games played with Monaghan always threatening in third.

It all came down to the final race. Elidh Hyland, Laois team trainer, prepared her team well and encouraged them throughout the race. John Driver’s Shillelagh team fought hard to hold on to the top spot but, in the end, it was the Laois team that kept their cool and deservedly took first place.

The camaraderie and sportsmanship displayed by these young riders is a credit to the clubs they represent. It was a hard-fought final, but the winners were celebrated by all that competed.

Final standings