THE Irish Pony Club’s first national competition of the year, the National Triathlon Final, which has no riding phase, was held last Sunday in Athy with classes for both boys and girls at Senior, Junior, Minimus and Fledgling levels.

While you’re not comparing like-with-like as regards distances, etc., the day’s highest score, 3,237 points, was recorded in the Junior Boys’ class by Carlow’s Jamie Hargaden while a three-phase total of 3,169 saw Lucy Minahan win the girls’ title at this level for the Wexford Branch.

Well-known Tetrathlete William Verling had a convincing success in the Senior Boys’ run which resulted in the West Waterford member topping the final leaderboard on 3,131. On a score of 2,764 in the Senior Girls’ division, Jane O’Donnell initiated a double for the Tipperary Branch which was completed in the Minimus Boys’ section by Patrick O’Callaghan (2,072).

The Waterford Branch also recorded a double through Julie McDonald (2,116) in the Minimus Girls’ division and Breffni Walsh (1,840) in the Fledgling Girls’ class. The Killinick Branch’s Max Doran comfortably landed the Fledgling Boys’ title on a total of 1,620 with his nearest rival over 90 points adrift.

While there is plenty of action at Branch and Area level throughout the country at present, the next National Championships take place on Sunday, May 1st, when dressage fans will descend on Spruce Lodge.

In Area 17 of The Pony Club, members have also been busy at Branch level while some are competing tomorrow at the Winter Triathlon Final in Grantham. The Barrier Animal Health Spring Festival in show jumping, dressage and arena eventing, for which members of Branches in Northern Ireland and Scotland have qualified over the past few months, takes place at the Morris Equestrian Centre, Fenwick from April 2nd to 4th.