Senior Russell Cup recipient – Henry Evans

East Down Branch of the Pony Club recently held their annual prize giving at the Millbrook Lodge Hotel, Ballynahinch. A large turnout of members and their families filled the room to capacity and it was a great opportunity to catch up and reflect on the success of the club during 2014. The members had the opportunity to see themselves in action over the summer thanks to a fantastic display of photographs put together by Nicky Burns and anticipation was high with the silverware and many rosettes lining the awards table.

Best East Down Pony Clubber- Sophie Truesdale

Joint District Commissioners Alison Bissenden and Donna Quail thanked the many people who support the club over the year. This included Richard Lyttle and his team from Downpatrick Racecourse who host the annual summer camp, Pat Turley who offers tremendous help and also provides use of his facilities each year.  Marion Turley and her team at Tullymurry Equestrian Centre who host the Junior camp, many rallies and, also in 2014, the Area 17 Home Championships. Also Nicola Manningham-Buller and Eric Pele for the use of their facilities for rallies and training as well as their expertise, Terry and Roz Murphy for hosting Junior Rallies and the members, family and friends who work together to ensure such events are a success.

Home Championships 45cms assisted Team – Sam Hamilton. Ellie McDowell, Andrew Sharvin and Harvey Mcgladdery

In 2014, East Down was delighted to have great success at Area competitions and Home Championships. The club had representation in all disciplines which resulted in Senior members travelling to England to compete in Show jumping, Eventing, Dressage, Tetrathlon, Endurance and Toni Quail was selected to represent Team GB in Games. The Junior members also had a very successful summer at Area Dressage, Show jumping, Tetrathlon and the Home Championships. These young members are extremely competent and competitive giving East Down Branch a strong future.

Napier family Trophy awarded to The Campbell Family, Gavin, Rosemary, Stewart and Cathy. Included is Joint District Commissioners Donna Quail and Alison Bissenden

The Show jumping Team of Chloe Rooney, Toni Quail, Andrew Turley and Molly Evans were presented with the District Commissioner’s Award to acknowledge their success in England where they won the Horsemanship Award. This is “presented to the Team who show ability, talent and effectiveness” and is judged during the first round of the Intermediate Championships. All team members must ”maintain rhythm and balance, intervening only when necessary and giving their mounts confidence to jump in a settled, supple way with effective leg position while riding on the flat and when jumping.” It is judged from the moment the rider enters the arena and reflects the talent that these four riders displayed.

Mini dressage team. Dylan Torrens, Zara Burns, Emma Burns and Aaron Dugan

Senior Russell Cup (nominated by instructors during Senior camp) – Henry Evans

Junior Russell Cup (nominated by instructors during Junior camp) – Ella Kincaid

Award for Junior Attendance and Turnout, Lara Kelly and Junior Russell Cup recipient, Ella Kincaid

Most improved Mini member – Lucy Keyes

Most improved Junior member – Sam Hamilton

Most improved member under 14yrs – Alex Cleland

Most improved Senior member – Andrew Turley

Best Ambassador for East Down – Toni Quail

Best East Down Pony Clubber – Sophie Truesdale

Most successful rider at Area level – Emma Holmes (dressage), Ellen Erskine and Paddy Erskine (Tetrathlon)

Most successful team at Area level –Intermediate Eventing Team (2^nd place at Areas) Chloe Rooney, Toni Quail, Cathy Campbell and Andrew Turley

Senior Show jumping cup – Tilly Mae Horder

Most successful Novice Team – Novice Eventing Team (4^th place at Areas) Ryan Truesdale, Alex Cleland, Ben Rowlatt-McCormick and Olivia Hughes

Most successful Tetrathlon Team – Open Boys Team (1^st place at Areas) of Andrew Turley, Paddy Erskine, Ewan Findlay and Rory McMullan

Fledgling Tetrathlete – Tom Rowlatt-McCormick

Attendance and Turn-out

Junior – Lara Kelly

Senior Dressage Award, Emma Holmes

Intermediate – Aoife Hamilton-Quinn

Senior – Ryan Truesdale

Under 14 year’s Show jumping – Charis Vinaccia (5^th place individual at Novice Championships)

Senior Show jumping – Tilly Mae Horder (qualified for and travelled to Dengie Championships)

Home Championships 65 cms Team – Zara Burns, James Murphy, Thomas Murphy and Zara Sharvin

Junior Dressage – Zara Burns – (1^st place U10 at Areas)

Senior Dressage – Emma Holmes – (1^st place Novice at Area Dressage and attended Novice Championships)

Junior Team at Areas – Tetrathlon Team – Ben Rowlatt McCormick, Johnny Erskine and Tara Findlay

Mini Team at Areas – U10 Dressage Team (1^st Place) – Zara Burns, Emma Burns, Dylan Torrens and Aaron Dugan

District Commissioners Award presented to the Intermediate Show jumping Team – Chloe Rooney, Toni Quail, Molly Evans and Andrew Turley

Best Individual at Home Championships – Zara Burns – (1^st place)

Home Championships team – 45cms assisted Team – (1^st place) – Sam Hamilton, Ellie McDowell, Andrew Sharvin and Harvey McGladdery

Home Championships Team – (65cms team) – (1^st place) – Thomas Murphy, James Murphy, Zara Burns and Zara Sharvin

Novice Eventing Award – (5^th place Individual at Areas) – Olivia Hughes

Intermediate Eventing – (2^nd place Individuals at Areas) – Cathy Campbell and Toni Quail

Napier Family Trophy (awarded to the family within the club who have helped over and above the norm ) –  Campbell family, Gavin, Rosemary, Cathy and Stewart

The members of East Down Branch of the Pony Club are continuing with their hard work over the winter with many gaining their Efficiency Badges and Road Rider Badges. Rallies and Training are underway with a new programme of Events being drawn up and the Summer Championships already in mind.  The next big event for the Club is the Dengie Dressage Qualifier, Triathlon and the One Day Event. East Down Branch welcomes new members and details can be found on membership and events on the Pony Club website – www.pcuk.org

Novice show jumper, Charis Vinaccia on Derry Mac who will be travelling to the Novice Championships after finishing 5th place a

East Down Branch of the Pony Club are enjoying another busy but successful Summer of training and competition.

Senior Pony Club enjoyed glorious weather for its residential camp. Held at the beginning of July over 5 days at Downpatrick Race Course with thanks extended to manager, Richard Little and his team for the use of these wonderful facilities once again. EDPC would also like to thank Pat Turley and Nicola Manningham-Buller for the use of their ground and to Marion Turley of Tullymurry Equestrian Centre. Instructor Johnny Steele organised a very informative talk on feeding from Bluegrass representative, Craig Kelieff and a shoeing demonstration. Also to all the parents, family and friends who contributed to the running of the camp.

Senior camp had 36 members participating under the guidance of instructors Anona White, Ruth Walker, David Kirkpatrick, Sharon Riddell, Johnny Steele, Ruth Smith and Janice Reddy. Members were given expert training in the disciplines of Dressage, Show jumping and Eventing as well as Stable Management and also enjoyed fun activities in the evening. Thanks are extended to East Down Hunt Joint Masters Mr James Armstrong and Mr Brian McConville and Huntsman Mr Declan Feeney for hosting a visit by the Pony Club members and a trip to the Go-carting was enjoyed by all and brought out the competitive spirit!

Toni Quail on Ringfort Rua will be representing East Down Pony Club at the Intermediate Championships after finishing 2nd plac

Junior camp ran at Tullymurry Equstrian Centre also at the beginning of July. Again with thanks extended to Marion Turley. Over 20 Junior members attended over 3 days with instruction provided by Clare Steele, David O’Connor, Sarah Turley, Neil Marsh and Victoria Clarke.

With camp over, East Down Club turned their attention to the Area Competitions and were able to put all the training gained into practice. Thanks again to all the instructors including Nicola Manningham-Buller for Dressage training and Eric Pele for Show jumping training. The ongoing practice paid off with East Down Branch being represented in all disciplines in the Championships held in England later this Summer. East Down Branch of the Pony Club would like to wish all its members good luck as they travel and also to congratulate all those who took part. The club had excellent results throughout each discipline.

Intermediate Dressage Team, 6^th place – Sophie Truesdale on Rock Rebel, Toni Quail on Ringfort Rua, Chloe Rooney on Molly May and Cathy Campbell on Carnhill Lucy.

Novice Dressage – 1^st Individual – Emma Holmes on Bannagher Boomerang.

Novice show jumper, Charis Vinaccia on Derry Mac who will be travelling to the Novice Championships after finishing 5th place a

Junior Dressage Team, 2^nd place – Aimee Dugan, Chloe Martin, Lara Kelly and Darragh Hanlon.

Junior Dressage Individual results – 3^rd Aimee Dugan, 2^nd Chloe Martin, 3^rd Lara Kelly and 5^th Darragh Hanlon

Mini Dressage Team, 1^st place – Dylan Torrens, Emma Burns, Zara Burns and Aaron Dugan

Mini Dressage Individual results – 1^st Zara Burns, 4^th Aaron Dugan, 5^th Emma Burns and 6^th Dylan Torrens

Intermediate Show jumping Team, 3^rd place – Chloe Rooney on Molly May, Toni Quail on Ringfort Rua, Cathy Campbell on Carnhill Lucy and Andrew Turley on The Devil’s Bit  with Cathy placed Individual 6^th and the Team placed 4^th in Tack and Turnout

Intermediate Show jumping Team, 6^th place – Sophie Truesdale on Rock Rebel, Tilly Horder on Murphy, Harriet Pele on Northern Link Lady and Molly Evans on To Be Fair.

Novice Show jumping – 5^th Individual – Charis Vinaccia

East Down Branch of the Pony Club summer camp. Members, Instructors and Joint DCs Donna Quail and Alison Bissenden

Mini Show jumping Team, 5^th place – James Murphy on Golden Flight, Thomas Murphy on A J Larcarno, Zara Burns on Silver Bandit and Zara Sharvin on Woodvale Classic Lady with the team placed 3^rd in Tack and Turnout.

Intermediate Eventing Team, 2^nd place – Chloe Rooney on Molly May, Toni Quail on Ringfort Rua, Cathy Campbell on Carnhill Lucy and Andrew Turley on The Devil’s Bit.

Intermediate Eventing Individual placings – 2^nd place, Toni Quail and Cathy Campbell

3^rd place, Chloe Rooney and Andrew Turley, 5^th place, Sophie Truesdale and 6^th place, Harriet Pele.

Novice Eventing Team, 4^th place – Ryan Truesdale on Lowhill Tick Tock, Ben Rowlatt-McCormick on Graf Keerogue, Olivia Hughes on Forest Hill Rambler and Alex Cleland on Whisper Grey Dove.

Travelling to the Intermediate Championships for Eventing will be Toni Quail on Ringfort Rua .

Emma Holmes on Bannagher Boomerang will be attending the Novice Championships for Dressage. Charis Vinaccia with Derry Mac will also be attending the Novice Championships to take part in the Show jumping.

The Boys Tetrathlon Team of Andrew Turley, Paddy Erskine, Rory McMullen and Ewan Findlay will represent East Down at Open Level and the mixed Junior Tetrathlon Team of Ben Rowlatt-McCormick, Johnny Erskine and Tara Findlay will be joining them. Travelling as an individual Tetrathlon competitor is Ellen Erskine who was placed 1^st at Intermediate Areas.

For Endrance riding East Down Branch have two representatives. Olivia Hughes and Tara Findlay.