IPC Musical ride

THE Island Branch won the musical ride at last week’s Irish Pony Club Festival in Barnadown with their display, Guardians of the Island Galaxy.

The Carbery Branch finished second ahead of the Kildares in a three-Branch competition which was judged by Dorothy Guilford and Tony Ennis and sponsored by Horse First.

Coached by Fiona Cloke, with costumes and props made by parents and others, the Island display had two banner bearers, Sophie Byrne and Shannon Hickey.

The mounted ride members were Kerri McDonald, Brooke Carey (who hand painted all the saddle clothes, etc), Emma Carton, Lauren Spencer, Emma Poole, Casey McDonald, Holly Spencer, Tabatha McKee, Joe Dunne, John Asple James, Noel Asple James, Zoe Poole, Ellie O’Connor, Heidi Masterson, Susan O’Connor, Saoirse Johnston, Caragh Spacey, Kayla Coade Flynn, Ruby Cousins and Molly O’Keeffe.

There will be an opportunity to see the Guardians of the Island Galaxy display at the Dublin Horse Show when the successful Island troupe will appear in Ring 1 on Sunday, August 21 at 4.40pm. There, Jake Cousins will head the display carrying the Vivenne Hillery cup (as winners) and the Cherry Brandon (for artistic presentation) which the Branch won for the first time last week.