In an exciting 128cm championship on Friday night at the RDS, 10 ponies jumped clear over Tom Holden’s track. A fast jump-off ensued and to the cheers of the spectators these little ponies delivered great entertainment. First in was John McEntee on Lugan Darragh, who galloped round without taking a pull to break the beam in 39.72 seconds with all the fences intact.

Then Charlotte Houston and Little Jack Spratt left strides out everywhere to clock 36.25 and take over the lead. This looked good enough to challenge for the title until Ciarán Nallon and the former Susan Fitzpatrick ride The Silver Legend pressed the turbo charger to break the beam in 34.27. That time held for the next four ponies before Charlotte Houston entered again on the blood pony Kilcreene Apollo to shatter the time and set a new target of 33.85.

When last-to-go Rhys Williams (son of former national league rider Adrian) and Parc Epic clocked 34.19, the game was over. Williams was celebrating his birthday in Dublin, as was Max Foley from Carlow, who was competing for the first time in Dublin and celebrated his 10th birthday the previous day. He took over the ride on Sparkel, who finished in eighth place, from his older brother Jason this year and has another two years in this grade.

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Winner Charlotte Houston has been riding her pony for two years and won the Spring Tour in 2014 and is currently leading the Premier Pony series. It was her last ride on the pony, who has been sold and goes to its new home in Kilmore with the Wachman family. The pony is now with its fourth rider and was competed previously by Robbie Clancy.

Charlotte’s mother Joanne Houston (formerly Prentice) was herself a winner in Dublin, winning the 138cm championship both on Cogshall Celebrity and Shakespeare. Charlotte admitted she is usually beaten by Ciarán Nallon but told her mum her only chance was to “go inside” to fence three. This she did and won the class.