IT was a busy extended weekend at Castle Irvine, Necarne as, following two full sessions of affiliated dressage on Saturday and Sunday, the Co Fermanagh estate was the venue for a cheque handover with a show jumping slant on Monday.

Aldyth Roulston, who represents the Ulster Region on the SJI’s pony committee, and Hannah Gallagher of Castle Irvine presented a cheque to the value of £20,719 to Myrtle and George Irvine who represented the beneficiary, Air Ambulance NI. This charity works alongside the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service to provide helicopter emergency medical services for the region.

On hand to assist with the handover was Janette Baxter and her daughter Jessica. The latter benefitted from the service when injured in a show jumping fall during the SJI Pony Premier final weekend at Castle Necarne last September. Air Ambulance NI airlifted Jessica to the Royal Victoria Children’s Hospital where she spent nine weeks.

Jessica and her family said they were deeply indebted to this crucial service and took the opportunity on Monday to publicly thank Air Ambulance NI, Doctor Geoff McCracken, the show paramedic on the day and the NI Ambulance Service who all provided aid to the young rider.

The charity’s on-board helicopter crew consists of a pilot, doctor, and paramedic and, operating 365 days a year, costs a large amount of money to run. The funds handed over on Monday were raised at a pony show held at Castle Irvine, Necarne on Sunday, June 19th, and came from entry fees, donations and other events on the day.

There were almost 350 entries competing in classes ranging from 128cms 50cms to children on horses and junior 1.20m events. Competitors travelled from all over Ireland and stayed locally for the weekend. Sponsors donated prize-money for each of the 18 classes at the show.

“We have seen first-hand the incredible work that the Air Ambulance crews do and are only delighted to help keep this work going, I am in awe of the amount of money we managed to raise,” said Roulston. “I would like to take this opportunity to thank Hannah Gallagher from Castle Irvine and the incredible team here for all of their hard work and support. This was a joint venture between the SJI Pony Committee and Castle Irvine.

“I would also like to say a heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported us in anyway, we had people donating and competing from the length and breadth of Ireland. Donations rolled in long after the show ended.”

Damien McAnespie, Air Ambulance NI fund-raising manager, said: “I want to thank everyone that supported or participated in the Ulster Region Pony Committee charity pony show a few weeks ago at Necarne.

“The family and friends of former patient Jessica, as well as the equestrian community, have come together in support of Air Ambulance NI and have raised enough to fund the service for nearly four days, potentially saving the lives, brains and limbs of up to eight individuals following a serious trauma or medical incident here in Northern Ireland. It is truly amazing support, and we greatly appreciate it.”

From the inception of Air Ambulance Northern Ireland in July 2017, the service has been tasked 2,969 times. Air Ambulance NI attends to patients who are seriously ill or injured, bringing emergency pre-hospital care direct to the casualty with the aim of saving lives, brains and limbs.

Air Ambulance NI aspires to raise £2 million each year, or £5,500 a day, to sustain and develop this service and public support is crucial.