Waterford Hunt Branch

I joined the Waterford Pony Club at the age of 7, and since doing so have gained a huge knowledge of not only riding but also great horsemanship. The Pony Club gave me a wonderful foundation on which I have been building ever since. It gave me the opportunity to have great fun while I was riding and to make great friends during camps and rallyies while also offering many opportunities to compete and represent the club at national level, which I loved to do.

Now having represented Ireland at both Pony and Junior Level in Eventing, I appreciate more then ever the experience I gained while representing Waterford Pony Club.

The first national competition I put my mind to winning was the National Minimus, which many members will recognise as there first national competition with the pony club as well. Once I decided I was going to win it, that was it, it had to be done and in 2000 after months swimming and running I managed to achieve it.

In 2001 I was a member of the team which won the National Junior Eventing championships the second team from Waterford Pony Club to do so and I also won the Junior National Combine Training Championship. While in 2002 although I won my section at the Junior Eventing Championships we unfortunately only finished 3 as a team.

As I had won the Combine Training Championship in 2001 I was initially told I could not compete for the title again in 2002, but having questioned this rule I was then informed that I could in fact compete, just not on the same pony as last year. Luckily at this stage I had gotten my 14.2 Fin and we qualified for the championship again. To my delight we managed to pull out a great test and clear showjumping round ensuring I brought the title back to Waterford for the second year in a row.

In 2003 I turned my attention to trying to get selected for the Irish Pony Eventing Team, the season had gone well and having completed my first three day event at Sansaw in England I was long listed for the Europeans. Unfortunately as I have learned over the years though there is a lot more to competing than just the competition, as having performed well at the final trial in July, my pony Fin trotted up unsound at the final vetting and was hence dropped from the squad!

In 2004 however I was not so unlucky and having passed the vetting without any problem we set our sights on the Europeans which this year were being held in Poland. The whole trip was an amazing experience from start to finish, meeting riders form different countries and competing against them was terrific. The heat in Poland was something which none of us Irish riders were used to but we managed to cope with quite well. Although the team was not in contention I was pleased with my personal performance of a clear round cross country to leave me in 17 position overall.

In 2006 my aim was to compete for Ireland at the European Junior Eventing Championships which were being held in Ireland in Necarne in September. Having started the season with two rides I was hopeful one of them would make the cut. Having trained extremely hard and had some good results throughout the season I was thankfully selected for the Junior team and represented Ireland for the second time in September. Necarne was another fantastic experience and I received great support from pony club members and friends who travelled up to watch the competition on cross country day. Having done a pleasing dressage, gone clear around a strong cross country and had two down on the final day I was proud to have been there representing not only Ireland but also my pony club and myself.

Having achieved what I have achieved so far in my eventing career it would be unjust not to mention all the support and help I received from all my trainers who have contributed to my success, not to mention the support my parents have also given me.

Having started at the bottom and worked my way up I feel it is fair to say anybody with the motivation, dedication and determination can do what I did and more so get out there and make the best of your years in pony club and most importantly enjoy it.

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