THE annual SJI National Pony and Children on Horses Championships held in Mullingar Equestrian Centre truly is a festival of show jumping. As with any great festival, the website crashed under the demand for stables and the similarities don’t end here as there was a sea of tents, caravans, deckchairs and barbecues in the lorry parks for the truly optimistic as families kicked up their heels for the last hurrah before riders return to school.

The Championships is becoming a victim of its own success as its ever-increasing appeal led to bumper entries and long days of jumping in all five arenas over the four days. On top of the competition, there were organised games each evening, with soccer and rounders as well as a teenage zone. For many parents it is a chance for their children to have fun in a safe environment.

Friday saw the first of the Championship classes decided with the Mullingar Horse Auctions-sponsored young pony series being decided in Plusvital Arena 1. This series is an important feature with the four/five-year-old classes being judged on style and performance, encouraging the correct production of young ponies, while the six/seven-year-olds are decided by the fastest clear round as the ponies begin to learn their trade.

Reserve 128cm U10 champion Caitie McEvoy and champion Harvey Foley, pictured with Sorcha Foley at the SJI National Pony Championships \ Laurence Dunne jumpinaction.net

The six/seven-year-olds were up first with Tim Hawkins and O’B Poppet winning the 128 section. Ella Rush and Shadow Dash won the 138 class and Kate Lynch with Lahorna You Two won the 148 equivalent. Colm Widger and Menai Cadwgan took the honours in the 128 four/five-year-old class while Lily Tunney and Tullinaglug Rosheen defended their 2022 title by winning the 138 section and, finally, Gary Dooley and Sparkling Hawkeye 18 took the 148 title.

The other major Championship decided on Friday was the one where it all began for many of our young riders with the Walter Reape 50cm Final. Here, Eva Molan with Tabita Prince Charming and Roisin Byrne with Ballyowens Belle were the overall winners, but there were rugs and sashes for the regional winners as well as prizes for every child who jumped in the class to the delight of all involved.

Harvey Oscar Foley and The Silver Legend, winners of the 128cm U10 National Pony Championships \ Laurence Dunne Jumpinaction.net

Premier classes

On Saturday the feature classes in the Glenn Wood International Sand were the Ballinroe Horse Transport-sponsored Premier classes. The Children on Horses class kicked off the action at 8am with Conrad Sweeney and Sully taking the win, with local rider, Ted Fagan and Bella M second, just six hundredths of a second behind. Robbie Sheehan and Ahare Olympic Flemmencio finished third.

The always exciting 128 U10 class was won by Harvey Oscar Foley with The Silver Legend, who has won countless classes with various riders over the years, many of whom have gone on to the top levels of the sport. Alice Steele and Zulus Dream took second place with Lily Russell and another seasoned campaigner, Drumcaghey Jacko, third.

A thrilling jump-off for the 128 1.10 class saw rider after rider bettering what seemed like unbeatable rounds. Lucia Keane and Desirless D’Argan took the top spot, with Georgia de Bromhead and The Silver Legend in second and Jack Dore with Woodside Jerry-Lee in third.

After the excitement of the 128 jump-off, the crowds in the pavilion were entertained once again as they saw Cian McMunn with Cantum De Beaulieu and Charlie Flynn with Knud van Orchid’s posting identical times of 33.20 seconds in the 138 1.20 Premier. Mia de Bromhead and Jalisco T was just 0.27 adrift in third.

The 148 1.30 Premier saw riders hampered by torrential downpours, but they rode on undeterred. Lily Tunney and Fireman took the honours here ahead of Kian Dore and Wineport Q Junior, while new partnership, Ruben Foley and Valma de Fougnard took third.

Ted Fagan won the Children on Horses National championships at Mullingar with Bella M \ Jane Emily Potter jumpinaction.net

Starfinder

The Boomerang.ie Starfinder started bright and early in Arena 1. Here the top three were divided by just 0.18 of a second with Jack Kent and W P-B.R Machno Diamond Edition coming out on the right side of the decimals, with Lauren Adams and ASJ Samurai hot on their heels in second and Conor Brennan and Coolcronan Liberty in third.

The other Championships decided were the SJI Pony Committee U8 and U10 National Discovery finals with Lillie Cash and the evergreen King of Rock & Roll taking the U8 title and Georgia Foley and Maordeilo Cardinal’s Dream winning the O8/U10 Championship.

The SJI National Pony Committee National Pony League Finals saw Anna Rose Garrity and Rosegate Mayfly winning the 128 80cm title, Mark Mellet and Knockagaron Fear Bui Falcon winning the 138 90cm and Carra Garrity and Cashmir Jumper winning the 148 1m.

Jack de Bromhead Memorial

There was a new addition to the schedule this year with the Jack de Bromhead Speed Final held in memory of a boy that is missed by so many in the sport. Jack was a competitive show jumper in 128 ponies and always enjoyed the camaraderie, friendships and general mischief that are as important to the Pony Championships as the competition.

The class saw the winners from the Derby classes in the International Grass arena competing to win the beautiful Jack de Bromhead Memorial Trophy that was sponsored in his honour by Heather and Eamonn Kent. Fourteen riders started, with much cheering from all around the arena where a whole herd of children watched from the hill at the feet of the beautiful Tirneach horse statue.

Josh Fitzgerald, Niamh Delaney, Alex Mahoney, Ellie Condon, Isibeal Conway Kelly, Conor Mason, Niamh Wafer, Annie Hynes, Edward Walsh Jnr, Ruben Foley, Kate Lynch, Kym Moore, joined sisters Mia and Georgia de Bromhead for an exciting class that was won by Ruben Foley. Every rider who competed was awarded a memorial rug and a rosette with the image of Jack on them and the sight of all the riders galloping around on their lap of honour was equally joyous and poignant.

The action wasn’t over there with the final class of the day, the two-fence challenge being held in near darkness. James Derwin and Bobby Dawn took the win, breaking the record in the process, clearing an incredible 1.90 metres and bringing the evening’s entertainment to a close.

The overall National Champion for the 148s was Lily Tunney \ Laurence Dunne jumpinaction.net

Championship finals

Sunday morning saw more than a few bleary-eyed parents and children alike for the final day of competition. First up in International Sand were the 128 1.05 riders where Edward Walsh Jr took the Championship with Knockash Lady Bird, followed by Charlie Flynn and Hilary in second and Lucia Keane with Ravara Mohawk in third. The overall 128 National Champion was Charlie Flynn with Lucia Keane in reserve.

The 128 U10 Champion was Harvey Oscar Foley with The Sliver Legend, with Daniel McKeon-Devaney and Pillheath Camelia in second and Caitie McEvoy and Tynan Petal in third, leaving Harvey Oscar Foley as overall U10 Champion and Catie McEvoy in reserve.

The Foley family were in the money again as Ruben won the 138 1.15 Championship with Mayfly Green Peter. Robbie Sheehan and Bay Times were second and Cian McMunn with Cantum De Beaulieu took third position. Ruben Foley and Cian McMunn were on equal points for the overall title, but Ruben got the nod by virtue of his higher placing in the Grand Prix.

The 148 1.25m Championship was won by Chloe Hughes Kennedy with Wrenwood Bamblino. Lauren Adams and Lexius E Van Het Juxschot were second and Emily Moloney with Lady Crown were third. The overall National Champion for the 148s was Lily Tunney with Claudia Carroll as reserve.

The Children on Horses Championship went to Ted Fagan with Bella M with Cian McMunn and Limited Edition in second, while Ciara Ryan with Chica of De Rocky Mounten Z took third. The overall COH Champion was Red Fagan with Robbie Sheehan in reserve.

Huge credit has to go to the entire Fagan family as well as the huge team on the ground and all of the National Pony Committee who organised the show and worked long hours to make the festival happen.

With rugs to the winners of all classes and sashes for all championships, there is a huge sense of occasion to the show and most children will be going home, dreaming of Pony Championships and rugs and sashes in 2024.