PHOTOGRAPHED last Friday in the Main Arena at Balmoral Show, where both were among the FEI officials working in the show jumping section, Lithgow and Janet Currie took a few days off at the start of the month to visit the Royal Windsor Horse Show.

However, not only were they there to enjoy the sights of the show without having a job to do, but their trip had a second purpose, as they were both honoured for their ongoing voluntary service with The Pony Club, in particular with Branches in Area 17 (Northern Ireland).

“We both received Cubitt awards about 10 years ago but, since then, The Pony Club devised a further Cubitt Bar Awards system,” explained Janet. “At Windsor, Lithgow was presented with a 40-year bar, while I was presented with a 50-year bar.”

When asked how she first became involved with The Pony Club, Janet replied: “It was a bit by chance really. My good friend Rosie King and I were never in a Pony Club, but did do a lot of show jumping. When we were at University, we were invited to teach at the Killultagh Pony Club camp, which was then held at The Maze (Down Royal racecourse), and we agreed to. You didn’t need any certificates or anything in those days!

“That was the start of it and our own children were always members of the Route Branch, as are three of our eight grandchildren. I also helped out a bit with the North Derry Branch. It was lovely to be at Royal Windsor and not working, although the weather on the Friday was terrible. Since then, we were on official duty together at Lummen and last week at Balmoral. Next weekend, I’m heading to Mullingar, while Lithgow is off to the international event at Millstreet.

Tetrathlon

“Lithgow is very much involved with Pony Club Tetrathlon and, this year, Area 17 is hosting The Pony Club’s senior international Tetrathlon at Necarne, where there will be members representing the UK Pony Club including Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, the USA, Australia and New Zealand.”

The Curries weren’t the only ones from Area 17 to be honoured at Royal Windsor as a Cubitt award was presented to the Iveagh’s Gwen Kerton and, in absentia, to the Route’s Ann-Marie Carr. Jessica Marks, a member of the Mid Antrim Branch, received a gold award under the Young Equestrian Leaders Award (YELA) scheme. Many congratulations to all.