THE Irish Pony Society held their annual awards celebration last Friday in the Killashee Hotel, Naas. There was a very large turnout with over 210 members in attendance to celebrate the achievements of their members for the 2017 season.
Members from the eight IPS regions, Cork, Kildare/North Leinster, Limerick/Clare, Northern, South Leinster/Waterford, Tipperary and Wicklow and the newly formed Western Area were in attendance for the big event.
The first surprise visitor was Santa Claus, joining all the tables, posing for photos, handing out presents and getting hugs. Over the next few hours, riders excitedly accepted their awards in over 90 categories.
Former IPS member and London 2012 para Olympian Helen Kearney presented the main awards on the evening while Peter Molloy presented most of the awards.
Main awards were presented to Hannah Mackey for Mini Show Pony on Brynoffa Jonquill. Not be outdone, her sister Emma Mackey was presented with Show Pony 2017 and Part-Bred 2017 on Mount Pleasant Rosebud and for Starter Stakes and Coloured Pony on Parcglas Splendid Rainbow, owned by Lady Nesta Fitzgerald.
The Mini Show Hunter Pony was awarded to Oscar O’Connor on his pony Birtley Rainbow Quest. Jordan Murphy was presented with awards for M & M Pony and Show Hunter Pony for his new mount Lucifer. Charlotte Goor was presented with Mini Working Hunter Pony and Mini M & M Pony on her pony Ardfry Rahara.
The Intermediate Pony was won by Crusin Jack, ridden by Sadhbh O’Connor. The Connemara Pony of the Year was won by Ballylee Castle Prince also ridden by Sadbh O’Connor, she was also awarded the Pinkeen Trophy for the Overall Girl Rider at the Championship Show. Jack de Bromhead was presented with the Carew Cup for the Over All Boy Rider at the Championship Show. The Novice Pony of the Year was presented to Oh Dakota Justice ridden by Josh Williamson.
The Performance Working Hunter Pony award was shared between Jim Delaney, ridden by Pippa Durham, My Rockstown Two, ridden by Leah Heffernan and Buster of Lisnagar, ridden by Ned Kelly.
Pippa was also presented with the Arran Bobby 2017 with her home-bred Connemara Jim Delaney.
The Performance Pony 2017 was presented to Leah Heffernan on My Rockstown Two. Show Hunter Pony Youngstock was presented to Michael Galvin with his in hand pony Treflan Betsan with Eileen Furlong taking the Broodmare Award with her mare Perryditch Touch of Spice. John Dineen won the Show Pony Youngstock award with Breenybeg Lucy, John also won the Overall In Hand Award 2017.
The Irish Bred Pony 2017 was awarded to Eimear Furlong with her pony Thistletown Yrsa, Eimear also won the Working Hunter Pony with her pony Thistletown Olympia.
A High Achievement award was presented to the team that won the Inter Counties Competition held at Grantham during the summer, the team comprised Tiggy Hancock, Eliza Hancock, Lara Field, Rianna Marnane and Sadhbh Stassin Pelo.
Lucy Hancock was also presented with a High Achievement Award as she won the Working Hunter Championship at Burley in September.
MACKEY CLEANS UP
The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the two overall awards. These were both won by Emma Mackey from the South Leinster/Waterford Area as Emma won Overall Points Winner 2017 and was presented with the Mansergh Wallace Tray with her pony Mount Pleasant Rosebud who was crowned Champion Pony 2017 and Emma was again presented with the Clonross Memorial plate for her fantastic season.
A disco rounded out the night with all the younger children dancing wildly with parent joining in later in the evening.
The Irish Pony Society had a very successful year in 2017 with members winning classes in Dublin, BSPS in Grantham, qualifying for Hoys, competing at Event Ireland and Dressage Ireland.