FRESH from two thrilling qualifiers in Simmonscourt, the pony riders were the first to take to the main arena at the Dublin Horse Show last Friday, ready to contest for Ireland’s most prestigious North Star pony championship title, a crown previously claimed by many of the country’s finest show jumping stars.

First into the arena were 14 qualified 138cm combinations, each with a win in mind and seven booked their place in a jump-off against the clock. It was a nailing biting jump-off with the top three finishers coming home within 36 seconds of each other. The Foley family are no strangers to success at the Dublin Horse Show, and this year Harvey Oscar Foley added to the record sheet by claiming the first title of the day. Second last to go, he partnered Miriam O’Donnell’s Mayfly Green Peter to a flawless round, stopping the clock at 35.66 seconds. It was a case of history repeating itself as just three years earlier, in 2022, Ruben Foley had won the same title on Mayfly Green Peter.