JUNIOR Tetrathletes weren’t the only representatives of the Irish Pony Club competing in Great Britain last weekend, as mounted games players were in action at the Royal Bath and West Show in Somerset and at a two-day competition hosted by the Eglington Branch of The Pony Club in Scotland.

Between members, parents, brothers and sisters, there was an Irish camp of around 50 at Auchengate, which is some 87km north of the ferry port at Cairnryan. The host Branch was extremely welcoming, as was the weather, and the travelling party had a great weekend, especially as they were coming home to a Bank Holiday Monday.

Best international team

In the Senior A competition, won by Lanark A, the Irish squad, which played under the Shillelagh Branch banner, finished fourth both days and so brought home the cup for the best international team. This Michael Finn-trained squad comprised Emily Feehan of Laois, the Carlows’ Katie Foley and Lily Hatton plus the Shillelagh pair of Lily Kate Buttle and Sophie Cosgrave.

The invaders included 10 members of the Wexford Branch, whose Emer Nolan and Mai Donovan played alongside Rachel Twomey (Kildare), Rhianna Mulhall (Shillelagh) and Lucy Healy (Tipperary) on the Edel Nolan-trained Senior B team, who achieved first place on Saturday and second on Sunday. Edel also had charge of Wexford’s Mia Kent and Kildare’s Grace Whelan, who placed fifth in the Senior pairs’ competition.

Strathearn A won the Junior (Under 10s) competition, where the Cathal Donovan-trained Wexford team of Lucy Kent, Lydia Murphy, Sarah Jordan, Edward Kavanagh and Rhys O’Brien secured second place on both days. Also members of Wexford, Anna Donovan and Roisin Byrne played on the East Stirlings’ team, which finished fourth.

Down at the Royal Bath and West Show, the Lorna Whelan-trained IPC team of Kildare’s Nicholas and Marina Bolton, Laois’ Sarah Scholfield and Megan Adams plus Shillelagh’s Daniel Collins qualified for the Main Arena each day in sixth place. They made the A final there on Saturday, when they had their best day, finishing a respectable sixth against some of the best Branches in England and Wales.

“All players and ponies came through the week brilliantly,” reported chef d’equipe Chris Ahearne, chair of the IPC’s mounted games committee.