Festival Gymkhana proves a firm favourite in Randalstown

2025 Annual Gymkhana catered for show jumping, working hunter and showing for horses and ponies

Jul 02, 2025

On Saturday, June 21, Randalstown Arches Association and Mid Antrim Branch of the Pony Club hosted their 2025 Annual Gymkhana, as part of the Randalstown Festival Week.

Thanks to the recent good weather, the ground was in perfect condition and, after a brief run with the topper, the field at Dunmore was ready for action. A flurry of activity during the week saw the introduction of eight roped arenas and the building of three jumping courses, ready to host a selection of competitions; from horse and pony show jumping and working hunter to horse showing, pony showing, and even dog showing!

Thomas Forbes shows off his rosette at the Arches Festival Gymkhana, while getting a helping hand from mum, Aldona. PICTURES: courtesy of Amy Scullion Photography

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Signs were hammered in and progress photos were shared on social media - there was even a “Badminton Horse Trials”-style working hunter course walk filmed aboard a ride-on lawnmower! By Friday evening, the forecast was looking good and the field was transformed, ready to welcome Saturday's competitors and spectators.

On Saturday morning, the parking filled up quickly, with the pony show jumping arena seeing the most action; according to some reports, the ponies were queued up three wide and five deep! Also proving popular was the very noisy dog show, with pets being put through their paces in classes ranging from ‘Waggiest Tail’ to ‘Best Biscuit Catcher’.

Sofie Weir and ‘Ballylurgan Classique’ won both the 85cm and 95cm Horse Working Hunter classes and took the Working Hunter Horse Championship at the Arches Festival Gymkhana.

Another firm favourite was the working hunter arena, where horses and riders got to enjoy the natural undulations of the field, riding around the gorgeous old oak tree and jumping rustic fences along the hedge line. The horse show jumping saw the introduction of a new “Top Score” competition, and the showing arenas welcomed horses and ponies of all sizes, scrubbed clean and turned out beautifully.

By the end of the day, competitors headed home with smiling faces, rosettes and silverware proudly displayed on dashboards; volunteers were exhausted but delighted with the success of the day, and the field at Dunmore had been returned to its usual peaceful state, ready to welcome back its woolly inhabitants.

Sarah Kirkpatrick and ‘Volvo’ on their way to winning the 50cm and 60cm pony show jumping classes at the Arches Festival Gymkhana.

Mid Antrim and Arches would like to thank everyone involved in putting on the Gymkhana. Special thanks to Shane's Castle for the use of Dunmore; judges, Paddy Trainer, Liz Payne Porter, Richard Wilson, Eva Lowry, Dorothy Nicholl and Evelyn Brown; Mid Antrim Animal Sanctuary for hosting the dog show; photographer Amy Scullion and videographer Alastair Luke. Organisers would also like to thank the army of volunteers, who worked tirelessly on the setting up and taking down of the arenas, provided food and prizes and helped with the running on the day!

The Gymkhana this year was held in memory of George Graham, who first started the show in the late 1990s and kept it running for almost 30 years… Here's to the next 30!