Harry McMillan from Lime Park Equestrian Centre, Maghaberry, may be just 16 years old, but he has just had the adventure of a lifetime!
Harry is a member of Iveagh branch of the Pony Club, as well as being a member of the Northern Ireland Mounted Games Association and usually spends his weekends at training and competitions. Putting all this to good use, Harry has just returned from representing Great Britain at the International Mounted Games Exchange (IMGE) Australia 2023. And what an experience it was!
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Harry and the Great British team WON the International Mounted Games competition! It was a close competition between GB and Australia and, in the end, the British beat the host nation by one point to take the win!
Harry’s team mates were Alice Chanter from Oakley Hunt West branch and Izzy King from Poole and District branch, both from England; Charlie Gallacher from Wynnstay branch, Wales; and Scarlett Haddow from West Perthshire branch, Scotland. The non-travelling reserve was Phoebe Sykes from Rockwood Harriers. Their coach, Pennie Drummond from the Mounted Games Committee, and a chaperone, Dan Drummond from East Cheshire, both travelled with the team.
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The IMGE was hosted by Londonderry Pony Club in New South Wales from November 8 to 19; the competition itself was held on Saturday, November 18 and consisted of teams from Canada, America, United Kingdom and Australia. The competition consisted of 20 races, where riders competed on loan ponies, provided by members across NSW Pony Club. There had been a break in competition due to Covid, so Australia were the defending champions, being the winners of the last competition, which was in 2019.
The trip was much more than just mounted games... The group started in Sydney, where they climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge and met Jamie Oliver, who was also climbing it. They did dragon boat and jet boat racing, while visiting the International Regatta Centre.
They had a tour of Godolphin Stables; visited the Blue Mountains, Scenic World and did the Three Sisters walk.
They visited Sutton Pony Club and Megalong Pony Club, spent a night under the stars in the Bush and had lots of trail riding. They visited beaches, Broulee Island and did lots of swimming and water sport activities.
They visited Canberra and went to the Australian Institute of Sport, the Australian Royal Mint and Parliament Buildings and they got to see the sunrise at Mt Ainsle lookout.
In his biography prior to the competition, Harry said: “I am 16 years old. I am a member of Iveagh Pony Club in Co. Armagh, Northern Ireland. I have been riding since I was four and I have attended weekly games training with my trainer Gwen since 2018 and have enjoyed competing in Mounted Games competitions.
“I have represented Northern Ireland twice at DAKS Home International Mounted Games Championships at the Royal Windsor Horse Show with my pony ‘Patsy’.
“I am delighted to be representing Great Britain at the International Mounted Games Exchange in Sydney, Australia. This is a great opportunity to visit a country I have never been to before. I am really looking forward to sharing many new experiences with my own team and trainers, as well as the other riders from USA, Canada and Australia.”
The tourist bit complete, the day of the competition dawned. It involved four sets of five races (20 races in all) and for each set, the teams all changed to a different set of pool ponies. Riding multiple ponies is a challenge in itself for many, but to ride multiple ponies while competing in mounted games races, is simply amazing!
After some competitive races, the final results were:
1) Great Britain; 2) Australia; 3) USA/ New Zealand (combined team); 4) Canada.
Harry had an amazing trip that was made possible through the Pony Club. He has made friends and memories that will last a lifetime.