THEY may have not taken the victory in the Irish Pony Club Mounted Games in Gorey last Saturday, but their smiles tell it all.

Competing in their first ever mounted games competition, this young (Under 10) Laois Hunt Team had the support of the crowd and their older team mates.

Eight-year-old Tim Kehoe, who is a member of the Kildare Hunt team, was kindly allowed to join the team for the day. Tim has just started games this year and was guided by the ever reliable pony Clio, who has had many years of games, under the instruction of Nicky and Marina Bolton.

Tadhg Flanagan is nine years old and in his first year playing games on his pony Bella.

Seven years

Paddy Saunders is just seven years old and has been playing games for just four weeks. However, Paddy’s pony Suzie is no stranger to games having been in the Laois Hunt Pony Club for 20 years, so she knows it all!

Ciara Saunders, Paddy’s younger sister, is six years old and only playing games for four weeks but loves taking part on her pony Frosty.

Katie Headen is also six years old and is at home on the games field as her older sister Lucy plays and his mum Lorna Whelan trains the Laois team. This is also Katie’s first year competing and her pony is called Storm.