THE Oriel Harriers Branch of the Irish Pony Club may no longer exist, but was recalled to mind late last week when one of its former members, Molly McClean, was presented with the BEVA One To Watch award at the British Equine Veterinary Association’s annual congress in Birmingham.

Molly, who graduated from the Warsaw University of Life Sciences in Poland, first did an internship at Donnington Grove Equine but, for the past two years, has been working with Galway native Alan Hough, founder of Celtic Equine Vets in The New Forest. The practice put her name forward for the award and she was then interviewed by a judging panel of committee members, who were unanimous in their decision.

Hough and his team were delighted when Molly was announced as the winner as, back in Co Louth, were her parents Lisa Walsh and Ian McClean, a former District Commissioner of the Oriel, and her sister, event rider Jane McClean. The latter was recuperating at home having spent the previous two weeks in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda where she underwent lengthy surgery on her foot following a schooling accident with a young horse.

Molly, who has a keen interest in lameness and is also an equine chiropractor, doesn’t get to ride much these days, but is more than happy to sit up if the opportunity arises.