GRACE Maxwell-Murphy attended just one day of last weekend’s Northern Ireland Festival but her journey up from Craughwell to Cavan proved well worthwhile as she won the Ellie McDonnell ridden pony supreme championship on Glenville Glic.

En route to the overall title, the five-year-old stallion, who is only starting under saddle, won his open Mountain and Moorland large breeds ridden pony class – a great achievement in itself for a novice – and the section championship. Standing reserve, having finished second in the same class, were Pauline Dahill and Charlotte and Gill Glynn’s seven-year-old Glencarrig Knight gelding Nire Valley Count.