THE Irish Pony Club Championships are the highlight of the show season, featuring competitions in musical rides, show jumping, combined training, and pure dressage. Among the most exciting team events are the Pony Club Mounted Games, which are huge fun for both riders and ponies.

On July 22, the Kildare Hunt Pony Club’s (KHPC) Junior Mounted Games team were crowned champions at the Irish Pony Club Championships at Barnadown.

Improving on their second place from last year, the team raised the Tom O’Donnell Cup for the first time since 2011 - the year most of the team members were born!

The KHPC juniors held a joint lead at the end of the morning’s 15-game session. In the afternoon, they faced an impressive display of skills from all teams and had to dig deep to pull ahead and lift the winners’ trophy. The winning team consisted of Adam Beirne on Pony, Lily Rose Sheehan-Byrne on Cookie, Jack Beirne on Ginger, and Alex Shortt on Gerry. The team also welcomed a new pair, Emily Gannon on Daisy, who stepped in for Lily May Sheehan and Dante.

The juniors now have just one outing at the Tinahealy Show on the August bank holiday Monday before they head to the Ploughing Championships in Laois in September, where they again expect to face strong competition.

The KHPC senior team, consisting of Eve Whelan, Donacha Malone, Marina Bolton, Nicky Bolton and Mia Twomey, will represent the club at the RDS on August 17th and 18th.

The senior finals are thrilling to watch, so be sure to secure your place early around the ring, as it will be packed!