The Pony Club’s Annual Conference is being held in Northern Ireland, for the first time, at Belfast’s Waterfront on March 7.

As part of the event The Pony Club will be hosting a drinks reception at City Hall on March 6th, with local dignitaries and key volunteers attending.

The Pony Club has 12 Branches throughout Northern Ireland, and the Iveagh Branch with 306 Members is the second largest Branch within the UK Pony Club as a whole.

East Down Branch Members, Luke Kilmacki and Luke McMullan, will be taking to the stage during the Conference to give delegates an insight into life as both a Pony Club Member, as well as a competitor in the Pony Club Discipline of Tetrathlon, which features the four phases of swimming, shooting, running and riding. Diane Harron Eakin of Ringfort Stud will be enlightening delegates about her equine breeding successes, and there will be an inspirational talk, titled “Blind Ambition”, from guest speaker Dr Janet Gray MBE, on the highs and lows throughout Janet’s life as a successful champion water skier.

“The Pony Club is really looking forward to being in Belfast for this annual gathering, which gives us the opportunity to both listen to, and celebrate, our volunteers’ achievements” said club chairman Cherry Michell.

“We hope our delegates will leave the 2012 conference feeling as inspired about this special year as we do”.

The Annual Conference is open to both Pony Club Branch and Centre officials, with space still available. Apply online at www.pcuk.org by February 20th 2012 latest.