IT was an excellent Easter weekend on the racecourse for past and present members of the Duhallow Branch of the Irish Pony Club and this coming on the back of some brilliant performances in the recent Area 5 arena eventing league and final at Ballindenisk.

Former member Michael O’Sullivan, who recorded a double on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival last month, rode a winner and a second-placed horse from four rides at Fairyhouse on Saturday. The following day he was in action a lot closer to his family home in Lombardstown, at Cork Racecourse outside Mallow, where he partnered three winners, a second and two third-placed horses from seven rides.

On Monday, Michael’s travels took him back up the road again to Fairyhouse where, disappointingly, he drew a blank from three rides. And, being up in Co Meath, it also meant that, not only did he miss being present to see his brother Alan record his first racecourse success on Dundaniel in the John Thomas McNamara Series Maiden Hunters’ Chase at Cork, he also missed the Dunhallow Pony Club races - one of which Alan landed in the past.

These two four-furlong races were contested by 10 very enthusiastic members of the Branch who were given pointers on how to ride the track by professional jockey Jody McGarvey while Jay Archdeacon rode the lead horse for both races. The organisers were also indebted to the racecourse manager, Andrew Hogan, and to Eoghan O’Grady, Damien Skehan and the rest of the staff who helped stage the races.

The first race, for riders turning 11 this year, was won by Willow O’Connor who came home ahead of Hazel Lucey, Aoife Walsh, Orla Flynn and Aoibhinn Turner. In the second race, for riders aged 12 and 13, the honours went to Dawn Ladd Finn who passed the winning post in front of Tara Flynn, Jack Archdeacon, Roisin Walsh and Ruby Sweetnam.

Dawn, who is a niece of leading flat jockey Billy Lee, should have weighed out in the company of her brother Will but, unfortunately, he broke his wrist on Saturday and was unable to take part.

Willow’s pony Burdal Smartie was led up by her mother, South African international event rider Storm who won the best turned-out award. On Sunday, Storm partnered her new mount for the 2023 eventing season, Barnaboy Peaches N Cream, to finish second in the EI110 (Open) at Lisgarvan House. Her son Oliver, who is two years older than Willow, also competed at the Co Carlow venue where he finished seventh in the EI100 (P) class on the Connemara mare Lickeen Shannon.