WHILE their senior mounted games counterparts were competing at the Royal Windsor Horse Show, emerging games fans and members of Area 17 of The Pony Club (Northern Ireland) were pitting their skills against one another at Balmoral Show.

On the Friday afternoon, five members of the East Antrim, Iveagh and North Down Branches lined out in the Main Arena as did a Mixed Team which allowed members of those Branches which haven’t enough games enthusiasts to field a team of their own to join together.

Here, one of the competitors’ parents, describes the action and excitement.

“The Pony Club games at Balmoral Show 2022, generously sponsored by UMEX and Connolly’s Red Mills, had that extra flurry of excitement that we’ve all come to recognise after two years of cancellations and postponements.

“The Balmoral Park flags were billowing in the wind as 20 beaming Pony Clubbers were cheered and welcomed into the manicured Main Arena where the four teams put on a show that embodies the ethos of The Pony Club.

“They demonstrated horsemanship beyond their tender years, team spirit and determination as they tackled each game and its various challenges. Pony Club games epitomises skill on horseback, it takes courage from both pony and rider, but, most of all, it’s about fun.

“The grandstand was full of enthusiastic supporters as the competition started with the bending race and, from the outset, it was clear that Iveagh were going to be the team to beat.

“Time and again, it was the Iveagh member with the white hatband, which signifies the fourth and final player in a game, who was out first.

“Every competitor knows that a certain amount of luck is required on the day and Iveagh had their fair share.

“In the pyramid race, which requires each rider to stack an ice-cream carton on an upturned barrel, the final Iveagh member raced to the line leaving behind a stack of four cartons that made the Leaning Tower of Pisa look straight.

“The competition ended with the spectacular and crowd-pleasing balloon race. In this game, each rider gallops past a row of balloons bursting one on the way. Despite a mistake, the Iveagh team of Ted Geary, Jack Cowan, Erica Ingram, Charlotte Betts and Charlotte McCracken rode to glory, ensuring their winning team position. The Mixed team came second, East Antrim took third place and North Down were fourth.

“It wasn’t the Olympics, but you wouldn’t have known by the celebrations of the young Iveagh team. They completed their lap of honour with a gallop down the middle of the arena while waving to their supporters. Many older equestrians say their Pony Club days were some of the best of their life, on days like these it’s easy to see why.”

Last Saturday, the Area mounted games competition was hosted by the North Derry Branch at Maddybenny where, through their results, the following members have qualified for the North Zone finals at The Longshott, Lanark racecourse, Scotland over the weekend of July 16th and 17th.

Teams, Senior – 1, Iveagh; 2, North Derry. Junior – 1, North Down; 2, East Antrim. Senior pairs – 1, Sam and Hannah Saats Howard (Route); 2, Timothy McNabney (Mid Antrim) and Adam Booth (North Down); 3, Harry McMillan and Jack Cowan (Iveagh).

The next Area 17 competition, dressage, will take place on Saturday, June 25th, at Laurelview where it will be hosted by the East Antrim Branch.

The previous day, Friday, June 24th, a special combined training competition will be held at the Iveagh Pony Club grounds outside Portadown where the winners and second-placed combinations from the Intermediate and Members’ sections will be invited to compete at the Dublin Horse Show in August.