Welcome to Midlands Connemara Pony Breeders Group
The Midland Connemara Pony Breeders Group aims to assist and support the CPBS in encouraging the development and enhancement of the Connemara pony in the Midlands region.
Midlands Connemara Pony Show 2018
2018 Supreme Champion Aer de l'Aulne owned by Christine Mares
2018 Willows Ingredients Ltd. and Midlands All Ireland Broodmare Champion Lough Fadda Kimberley owned by Cathy Snow and Martin Coyne
2018 Junior Champion Hannah’s Only Dun owned by Joe McCann
2018 Foal Champion Murvey Jordan owned by Bernard Keaney
Show Report 2018
As the countdown to the show reached the last few days, everyone was on tenderhooks as to what the weather would hold for us – after weeks of sunshine and complete dry there had been a change – was it going to be dry or were ‘wellies and jackets’ the order of the day. Much to everyone’s relief the ‘weather gods’ smiled on us and the day was dry with sunny breaks and all the effort of preparation culminated in a resounding success for the 15thMCPB Annual Championship Show on Sunday, 29thJuly.
It would be remiss to start this report without acknowledging and thanking the many people who support us and make this event possible. First and foremost, our principal sponsors – Willows Ingredients Ltd. – to whom we are indebted for their continued and consistent support of the Midlands Connemara Pony Breeders. Carmelia and David you warmth and generosity mean a lot and you are very much part of the ‘MCPB family’.
Our sincerest appreciation also goes to Connolly’s Red Mills who over the years have consistently supported us through their sponsorship and we would also like to express our thanks to Devenish Nutrition who again have sponsored the Sarah Miller Future Performance class.
To our many class sponsors, our deepest thanks – you contribute so much to making our show the great event that it is.
To our many helpers on the day, ring stewards, parking stewards, runners, commentators and the many other jobs where people voluntarily give up of their time and are key to the successful running of our show – thank you, the show could not run without you.
Robert Fagan and his team at Mullingar Equestrian provide the perfect setting so that the Connemara Ponies – be it in hand or performance – can be seen at their best. Thank you, Robert.
Galway Crystal continue their generous tradition of giving the beautiful crystal trophies that our winners take home.
As has become a tradition, it was our pleasure to have Lord Tom de Vesci join us for the day and present the Lady de Vesci Perpetual Cup to the Broodmare Champion. It is always so interesting to hear Lord Tom reminisce on his mother’s involvement in the Connemara’s and the start of the Abbeyleix line.
This year there was a record entry of just on 550 for the show. For the organising committee to see this level of interest (and excitement on the day!) makes all the effort worthwhile.
Judges on the day were:
In hand: Mr Ciaran Curan, Mr Noel Sweeney, Mr Patrick Traynor
Performance: Ms Joanna Cole, Ms Carole Douglas, Ms Anne Grimes, Ms Anne Magee, Mr George O’Malley, Ms Maura Rooney, Mr Philip Scott
The 2018 Supreme Champion is Aer de l’Aulne (Coosheen Finbar/Ies de l’Aulne) winner of the 7-10 year old mare class. Owner Christine Mares’ journey back to Co. Down will seem much shorter knowing that as well as her beloved pony, she has the silverware in the box!
Standing reserve in the Supreme Championship was the winner of the 4-6 year old stallion class – Ardbear Oliver (Clocard Paddy/Ardbear Molly) owned by Eamon Spain and shown by his son Darren on the day.
The Junior Championship went to Joe McCann’s 3 year old colt Hannah’s Only Dun (Moonlight Silver Shadow/Roan Hannah) and taking Reserve was James Naan’s 2 year old filly Tullanna Lisabelle (Hazy Match/Kilbride Pearl).
The 2018 Foal Champion was Bernard Keaney with his colt foal Murvey Jordan (Glencarrig Knight/Murvey Rianna). Standing Reserve was another colt foal, Eamon Spain’s unnamed (Ardbear Oliver/Ballacurra Beauty).
After the break and as the ponies came into the ring for the Willows Ingredients Ltd/Midlands All Ireland Broodmare Championship,. Colin Doyle again followed the Midlands tradition with his excellent rendering of Amhrán na bhFiann.
For many the Broodmare Championship was the highlight of the day and it was lovely to see the class return to the level of entries we have not seen in the last couple of years. Over 20 quality mares and the judge for this class was Noel Sweeney – many did not envy his task! Ultimately the 2018 Broodmare Champion was Lough Fadda Kimberley (Glencarrig Prince/ Kim) and owned by Cathy Snow and Martin Coyne.
All the Young Handlers are to be highly commended on their turnout and on the day it was Lucy Donnan age 11 who took home the red rosette for the way she handled her pony.
It was a good day for the Spain family, as Eamon Spain’s lovely mare Ballacurra Beauty (Cashelbay Cruise/Ballacurra Lady Foal) and her colt foal champion took the MCPB 5 Counties (combined mare and foal) class.
The performance classes kicked off at 9 am and there was a very full schedule with large classes.
Thanks to the generous hospitality of our main show sponsors, Willows Ingredients Ltd., we all sat down to a very enjoyable dinner at the Mullingar Park Hotel. To Carmelia and David a huge thank you for their continued support and friendship.
Midlands Show Performance Classes 2018
The Midlands Connemara Pony Breeders ran a highly successful show at Mullingar Equestrian Centre on Sunday July 29th.
It was thanks to the main show sponsors Willows Ingredients Ltd, Connolly’s Red Mills, Devenish Nutrition, and M C P B that the overall entries exceeded all expectations.
Performance Chairperson Lorli Higgins along with her outstanding team and judges worked relentlessly throughout the day.
The recent dry spell was no problem as the Mullingar Equestrian sand rings were in immaculate condition. Course builder Tony Ennis assembled the rings and from all reports they rode really well.
The side Saddle class won by Thomasina O’Reilly from Athlone opened the classes and it was the beginning of a very successful day on her all round pony Rosscon Camille. Michael & Mary Connolly’s Rosewood Little Lady ridden by Ciara Connolly stood second and the winner was presented with a beautiful rug from Arden Equestrian.
Joan Dolan’s Tim An Ri ridden by Alicia Devlin Byrne won the Ridden Stallion’s sponsored by Cashelbay Stud ahead of Edwina O’Connor on Agharanny Minstrel.
The prize for the four year old and over ridden mares sponsored by Hon Kieran Guinness went north to Jackie Hockley’s L’Tara’s Jenny ridden by her daughter Jenny Lindsay. Rosewood Little Lady and Ciara Connolly were placed 2nd.
The Novice ridden four & five year old went to Gina Murray’s Shanbo Bay Lady who also received a Red Mills rug for the highest placed competitor under 16. Ballinaboy Queen owned by Jayne Mannion took second prize and also won the 4-6 mares’ in-hand class.
A new innovation to the show was the inaugural inclusion of two part bred classes, Anne Nixon from Glasson provided Millar Time by Prince of Thieves to win the ridden 4 y o mares & geldings. The part bred Working Hunter class was won by Crissaun Just Joey owned and ridden by Patricia Woods.
The open ridden classes were well supported, the four years and over sponsored by Jeann MacClancy went to Harriet Byrne’s Fiery Diplomat ridden by Jenny Byrne from Una Duggan’s Bob’s your Uncle ridden by Aine Duggan. The corresponding class was won by Catherine Costigan’s Abbeyside Codmore
The Ridden Championship was a sight to behold as spectators were treated to a beautiful show from all the riders. Won by Thomasina O’Reilly riding Rosscon Camille side saddle they never put a foot wrong and proudly collected a presentation rug from Anthony Flaherty representing sponsors Connolly’s Red Mills and the Ballyowen Maybell Molly Cup from Pat McCormack. Reserve Ridden Champion was Jackie Hockley’s L’Tara’s Jenny ridden by Jenny Lindsay.
The Equitation classes provided an elegant show; Emmalee Turley took the Championship on Lisa Donnan’s Killoughter Nugget and
won a pair of Dubarry Ireland Boots. Thomasina O’Reilly on Roscon Camille stood in Reserve.
The new Willows Ingredients Ltd Working Hunter Challenge with a winner’s prize of €1,000 and €500 for reserve opened the Performance classes in International Sand ring 1. The 85cm was won by Sheena Boran’s Tullaree Ruby Tuesday from Mel Murnane’s Danny’s Pride under Amber Murnane.
Rider Edwina O’Connor on Agharanny Minstrel collected the 95 cm. from Marjorie Hardiman’s Creggana Dandini placed 2nd
The 1.mtr 5. class was as good as it gets, Cluainin Robb owned by Barbara Walsh from Hacketstown in Carlow was beautifully ridden by her daughter Nicola to win the red from Claire Devlin’s Blackwood Fernando ridden by Alicia Devlin Byrne, and Caoimhe Curran’s Charlie of Blakehill third.
The Working Hunter Challenge was Championship and Willows Ingredients Ltd Trophy was presented by David & Carmelia Scrivens to a delighted Barbara Walsh owner of the worthy winner Cluainin Robb.
How happy the late Sarah Miller would have been to see the huge entry for the Sarah Miller Future Performance Championship sponsored by Devenish Nutrition. The winner was Rathbane Legend (Tulira Robuck-Ballyglass Lily) owned by Susan McCourt from Dundalk ridden by her daughter Emily who also collected the Best Rider Award.
The W H 80cms for M C P B members was won by Countess April Merveldt’s Donode Maybell Molly ridden by James Ryan, Owner rider Aoibheann Duggan on Ballywilderick Edition took the blue rosette.
The Clifden High Performance class had four qualifiers- Diamonds of Renvyle, Erne Valley Sucellos, Edwina O’Connor’s Agharanny Minstrel, Zara Herbert’s Boulabeha’s Little Princes, Katie Butler’s Shannon’s Joy.
The Irish Green Hunter Qualifiers were Karen Parker’s Woodhaven Katie – Serena Cookson’s Tulira Thyme & Kieran Egan’s Annaveigh Sunrise.
The show concluded at 7 p m, it was a long and successful day with the common bond of the Connemara pony bringing everyone together.
