UCD student, Craig O’Connor is part of Irish team that wins the “Mounted Pony World Championships” in Geneva.

The Mounted Pony World Championships took place in Geneva from 23-25th July with teams from as far away as Australia and USA taking part as well as teams from several European countries.

With UCD student and Dungarvan man, Craig O’Connor (19), and his first cousin, Jake O’Connor, whose mother is a Waterford native, on the team, Ireland won the World Title for the first time ever.

Ireland was represented by Mark Devitt, Aidan Hanlon (Meath), UCD student Craig O’Connor ( Waterford ), Jake O’Connor (Kildare), Shonagh Harpur (Wexford) and team trainer Jerome O’Connor (Kildare).

All members of the Irish team have been members of the Irish Pony Club where they started their pony games careers. They have represented their local branches at the National Pony Club Games Championships in the RDS and they represented the Irish Pony Club abroad.

The commitment and dedication involved is huge with team members regularly travelling abroad especially to England and Wales during the summer months to take part in competitions to improve their skills.

Mounted Pony Games is a truly unique team based equestrian sport that combines the acrobatics and athleticism of pony and rider in cooperation.

Competitors require high levels of dexterity, riding skills and hand to eye co-ordination to perform set tasks at high speed. The games are very spectacular for participants and spectators alike.

Links of Interest: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4yxTzBACA4   

http://il.youtube.com/watch?v=BW7rflGBnY8 

http://www.prime-photography.com/photos/main.php?g2_itemId=225710&g2_page=1