ACTION kicked off unmercifully early on Sunday, the final day of the National Pony Championships at Mullingar, for the 128 1.05 Championship where Lucia Keane continued her good run of form, this time with Bossinova taking the win and crowning her Overall 128 National Champion.

Lily Russell and Cool As Ice took second place, with Annie Hughes Kennedy and He’s A Touch Of Magic, or ‘Yummy’ to his friends, took third, securing Annie the Reserve Champion Overall.

Caitie McEvoy continued her dominance in the 128 U10 Championship, taking the win with Tynan Tuttle Pip in the class and the Overall 128 U10 National Champion title. Jack Rush and Dromore Hill Boy took second place and Reserve Champion Overall, with Khloe McLaughlin and Linde Hoeve’s Ricardo in third.

Sam Widger and seasoned campaigner, Western Oreo won the 138 Championship, helping Sam on his way to the Overall Leading Rider for the show, meaning that he and mother Paula were seen proudly dragging a shiny new winner’s Flexi-Equine tack locker back to the lorry at loading time!

Zoe Mellett and Fredaine De Blonde rounded out an excellent show with second place in the class and Reserve Champion Overall. Eunan Kelly and Lurganmore Little Rocket took third place. Charlie Flynn was crowned Overall 138 National Champion.

The 148 Championship saw James Derwin putting in a blistering round with Rincoola Babog to take the win from RDS Champion, Lily Tunney and Fireman, while Charlotte McCracken and Owendall Chianti took third. Ruben Foley took Overall 148 National Champion with James Derwin in Reserve.

The final class of the day saw Alice Moloney and a rapid Castlefield Cass winning the COH/JU Championship, crowning them Overall Champions in the process. Lily P Slattery and Captain Candy Man took second place with David Brennan and MHS Grand Slam in third. Ella Rush took Overall Reserve Champion.

Alice Moloney won the Ballinroe Premier Children on Horses and Junior final with Castlefield Cass at the National Pony Championships \ Laurence Dunne Jumpinaction.net

And with that the National Pony Championships were over for another year and a mountain of wet and muddy gear was packed up for the road home with a lot of soggy children who can go back to school with more than a few colds and runny noses, dreaming of next year’s show and the camaraderie with the families from up and down the country who serve as both friends and rivals.

For some families, as their children get older and move on to horses, they know that this was their last Championship and hope that the sport of pony show jumping continues to grow and bring as much joy to the next generation of families.