THE Baileys Horse Feeds flexi eventing series at The Meadows Equestrian Centre outside Lurgan reached its conclusion two weeks ago when the sponsor’s Judy Maxwell presented cups, sashes, rosettes and prizes to a multitude of riders.

Among the delighted and deserving recipients was North Down’s Carys Black who was the highest-placed Pony Club rider in the league having finished second overall on 61 points with her mother Lindsay’s nine-year-old grey gelding Glencairns Little Monkey.

The winner was senior competitor Denis Currie, who narrowly clinched his fourth title on 62 points with Arodstown Aramis. This 19-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding competed at the 2015 European Young Rider eventing championships in Poland, where he was ridden by former Meath Pony Club member James Nolan.

Area 17 of The Pony Club supported the flexi eventing series with prizes for the top six Pony Club members in the league and the top six Pony Club members gaining the highest dressage points in the league.

In reverse order, the first group comprised Felicity McConnell (Easy Pleased), Holly Rice (Supreme Dream), Ella Rose Sands (Rosie), Robyn Rice (My Isabella), Zara Reid (Greylands Diamond Girl) and, of course, Carys Black (Glencairns Little Monkey). There were some differences when it came down to the dressage scores where, in reverse order, the prize winners were Ella Rose Sands (Rosie), Erin McCrea (Eisfee), Holly Rice (Supreme Dream), Felicity McConnell (Easy Pleased), Carys Black (Glencairns Little Monkey) and Zara Reid (Greylands Little Girl).

Appreciation

“Area 17 of The Pony Club was very proud to sponsor prizes for Pony Clubbers taking part in the flexi eventing series,” commented Area Representative, Fran Rowlatt-McCormick.

“We did this for the first time to support the Northern Region of Eventing Ireland, who have supplied volunteers and advice for a number of years for Pony Club events. This has been much appreciated and I felt that it was time for the Pony Club to support our eventers. We aim to look at doing similar things with Dressage Ireland and Showjumping Ireland in the future, if possible.

“One of my aims as Area Rep is to try and improve our dressage scores overall and increase understanding of the importance of flatwork in all equestrian activity,” continued Fran. “We also used the scores during the series as part of the selection criteria for the Northern Ireland team for the Pony Club dressage home international at Royal Windsor in May.”