STRABANE’s Casey-Lee Millar enjoyed some great results at last weekend’s Northern Ireland Festival in Cavan, the highlight being her win in Saturday evening’s mini novice champion of champions supreme championship on the palomino Manorlea Calipo, who the family have on loan for the season.

Millar and the six-year-old Welsh Section A gelding, who have won working hunter championships at other venues this year, not only impressed with their competitive performances in the various rings, but were also adjudged as the overall best turned-out combination at the show, an award sponsored by Pretty Ponies.

Casey-Lee was very busy at the Festival, where she also recorded class and championship wins on Newoak Hot Gossip and Bunbury Suarez.

“She deserved her success as she worked hard to produce the ponies over the winter and has no interest in any other hobbies,” was the comment of the 11-year-old’s mother, Eileen, who does most of the work on the ground. Her husband, Lee, could be termed logistics manager, making sure his daughter was on the correct pony, in the correct arena and at the correct time – no mean feat. He probably had to plan how to pack away the many rosettes and sashes.

“We are heading to Balmoral next and will then think of qualifying for the workers in Dublin and for the Horse of the Year Show,” said Eileen.