We love doing special features on The N3xt Generation. A few weeks back we met Lily and her dad Stuart at the IPS Spring Championship in Necarne. On the day, I remember thinking, what a star we have in front of us. Young, ambitious, solid support group and not afraid to be dedicated. For an 11-year-old, it is safe to say we were impressed.

Fast forward a few weeks and I am scrolling through our Grassroots Gazette Insta and I see Stuart has put up a post about Lily having a phenomenal week at Balmoral Show. It was time for an interview!! The N3xt Generation is so important to us and giving them a platform like this will always be a part of what we do here at The Grassroots Gazette. Rising Stars like Lily deserve recognition and we are delighted to be able to do interviews like this. So let’s kick it off.

Who are you an tell us a little about yourself Lily?

My name is Lily Murphy and I am 11 years old. I live in an old cottage in the country, with my Mummy, Daddy, brother [Alexander] and two sisters [Ellie and Poppy.] We go to Meadow Bridge Primary School in Hillsborough. 

What do you do? / What is your passion?

I enjoy hockey, netball, skiing, swimming in the sea and going for walks with my family and our dogs. My true passion lies with ponies. I love everything to do with ponies – mucking out, grooming, feeding them, riding them at home, cross-country, Schools Show Jumping and Working Hunter.

Tell us about the event last weekend and how you got on? 

On Saturday Harvey and I competed at Balmoral Show in the Starter Stakes Working Hunter Class. Harvey had an amazing day! We finished 1^st in this class with a score of 96 out of 100. Harvey had a super show and jumping round. This meant that we qualified for the Working Hunter Pony Championship, and I was crowned champion!  Winning this allowed me to take part in the ‘Champion of Champions’ in the main arena, which was an experience that I’ll never forget.

Tell us about your horse(s) you had with you at the event?

I was riding my pony Bronheulog Harvey (stable name ‘Harvey’). Harvey is a 21-year-old liver chestnut, gelding. He is a 13 hand Welsh section B. My Daddy bought him last summer from England, and we have been preparing for Balmoral ever since.

How did you prepare for the event? Any challenges coming into this?

I prepared for Balmoral by competing at Knockagh View Equestrian Centre and Hagans Croft’s Spring Working Hunter Leagues. This gave me lots of learning and show experience?? This year we joined the IPS and took part in their Spring Show in Necarne Castle. The last show I did before Balmoral was NIF [Cavan] where Harvey and I had a brilliant few days, bringing home lots of rosettes. 

In the days running up to Balmoral we schooled at Moria Equestrian Centre to give Harvey and me more experience on grass. I bathed and groomed Harvey using Carr & Day & Martin products the day before to make him look his best!

The main challenges that I faced this year were trying to juggle schoolwork and preparing for my AQE and GL transfer tests and fitting in all my other sports as well as training with Harvey. 

Anyone you want to give a shout out to? It really does take a village.

I would like to give a shout out to my Daddy who coaches Ellie and me. He drives us to the shows and always seems to find us nice ponies! Also, to my Mummy who prepares everything for us at home and looks after my wee brother Alexander and baby sister Poppy when Ellie and I are out training with the ponies or competing. We have very good family friends (Francis & Stephen Kennedy) who have amazing training facilities and they let us use them on a weekly basis.  We also wouldn’t have our ponies looking as well as they do without the continued support from our sponsors Caroline Becky at Carr Day & Martin and Judy Maxwell from Baileys Horse Feeds.

What’s the one event you’d like to compete in and win

I would love to compete (and win!) at HOYS and Dublin Horse Show. I have always dreamed of winning both shows.  

What have you got to say about your horse/pony?

Harvey is a showman and loves his job. He is fantastic in the stable and loves being groomed and pampered. He enjoys hacking through the forest beside our house and being in the field with my sister’s pony Toffee.  We competed this Autumn at Meadows Equestrian Centre in the TRI Inter Schools Show Jumping League. Harvey loved going against the clock each week. He also loves to roll in the field and his stable!

Most proud of this weekend?

This was my 4^th time competing in Balmoral and I finally came home with a win. To win and be crowned working Hunter champion is a dream come true for me. I am also very proud of Harvey and how he coped with the huge crowds at Balmoral. 

What’s up next for you? Any big events coming up? 

I am looking forward to competing at the local Agricultural Shows in the next few weeks. I want to travel to more IPS shows this season and go to the summer championship show in Mullingar in August. Iveagh Pony Club Summer Camp is in July and I hope to compete on a team in the Area PC competitions. 

Who or what inspires you?

Pippa Funnel and Joanne Quirke are my biggest inspirations.

What are your goals for the future?

I would love to ride at BSPS, and Dublin Horse Show. Wish me luck!