THE Westmeath Branch of the Irish Pony Club held their awards and social evening last Friday at the Greville Arms Hotel in Mullingar, where members gathered to enjoy themselves without their ponies and celebrate their achievements throughout 2024.

Among the many awards presented on the night was that for member of the year. This was won by Erin Cleary, who demonstrated her outstanding horsemanship skills, including competing in side-saddle classes.

It has been a great year for Kevin Healy, who won the senior individual title at the IPC’s national hunter trials championships at Hillcrest Equestrian in September on Kilbunny Kabana and then joined forces with Orlagh O’Brien to win the senior pairs’ championship for the Branch.

Two days after this awards function, Kevin recorded his third point-to-point success, when the Simon Cavanagh-trained Milan Forth, a five-year-old Milan gelding, saw off 10 rivals to land the winners of two for novice riders at the Stonehall Harriers’ meeting at Moig South, scoring by half a length.

Another rider who did the Branch proud at Hillcrest was Lily Lynch who, riding the Connemara mare Garvagh Moonlight Star, finished a close-up second in the Under 12s’ individual competition, in which there were a massive 91 competitors.

Many members, from the youngest to the oldest, achieved their efficiency tests throughout the year, with a bit of history being made in early September when Phoenix Scully became the first Westmeath member on record to pass her H test. Phoenix, whose main interest is show jumping, was mentored by Anthea Rainsbury and Laura Whyte.

Following the presentation of many more awards and the celebration of many other achievements by Branch members, the night’s attendees joined together to bid farewell to the Westmeaths’ District Commissioner for the past four years, Joanne Leavy, and welcome in the new joint-DCs, Claire Brennan and Darren Young.