Ruth Rogers

JUDGING of the 2014 Connemara Pony Show in Clifden began last Thursday with the youngstock classes, judged by Padraic Hynes from Canal Stage and Sheila Ramsey from New Zealand, who awarded the first rosette of the day to Gabriel Murphy’s yearling colt Lolong Bobson Bobby (by Dungimmon Knight out of Cillbhrid Jenny), who was pulled in first ahead of Jarleth Grogan’s Hillside Dancer(by Laerkens Cascade Dawn out of Mountain Lady).

Numerous traditional bloodlines dominated in a very strong yearling filly class, which was awarded to Letterdyfe Síofra, exhibited by Martina Conneely from Roundstone. A well-coupled daughter of Castleside Carrick and Glencarrig Rose Marie, the filly was later judged reserve junior Champion.

Runner-up in the class was Carnane Yasman (by Glencarrig Knight out of Cnocban Yasha), well produced by Michael and Deirdre Holmes from Clifden. The two-year-old colt winner was Gloves Bomber (by Aran Brown Bomber out of Rehins Beauty), owned by Paul Madden from Athenry and exhibited by Eddie Madden. They stood ahead of Eamonn Spain’s Ardbear Oliver (by Clochanard Paddy out of Ardbear Molly).

A long-term breeding plan put in place by the late Johnny Keady and his son Seamus from Spiddal, Co Galway came to fruition this year. It is seldom we come across a pedigree with a double cross of Marble but when Seamus Keady’s Shanna Saoirse by resident stallion Too Much Melody (by Cocum Thunder Boy out of Equinoxe Melody) out of Skousboe Shamrock won the two-year-old filly class, it certainly paid dividends for years of hard work and a lot of wisdom. Caillin Conneely’s Castle Princess (by Currachmore Cashel out of Castle Urchin) stood second.

Three lovely quality mares dominated a solid three-year-old filly class which was won by Damien Gorham’s Doonhill Misty Dawn (by Currachmore Cashel out of April Dawn Lady) from Joe McCann’s Camellia Mist (by Dunloughan Troy out of Celtic Moy Streams) and Patrick Curran’s Wyncroft Dawn (by Laerkens Cascade Dawn out of Bailenbrough Beauty).

Michael O’Toole’s three-year-old colt Castle Diceman (by Glencarrig Knight out of Village Linnet) won his class from Pat O’Neill’s bay Illaunurra Bay (by Castleside JJ Junior out of Illaunurra Heather). Diceman was also awarded the junior championship, he has quality and there is no doubt that in future years he will pay many more visits to the holy ground at Clifden.

Jim Mullaney and Dr Ivan Torbes judged the afternoon session, choosing a good standard of pony throughout that resulted in a top class line-up for the supreme championship. In the four to six-year-old stallions, Ciaran Curran’s Glencarrig Knight (by Janus out of Coosheen Breeze) headed Joe Burke’s Banks Timber (by Teglstrup Duke out of Banks Squares Do Do), bred in Denmark by Jytte Bang Mikklesen who was present at the show, Stephen Fahy’s Ben Ban Cracker Jack (by True Commotion out of Ben Baun Glen Sally) stood third.

As reported in The Irish Field last week, Ciaran Curran’s Glencarrig Knight went on to capture the supreme championship to the joy of all his connections.

The senior stallion class was a credit to the breed. Joe Burke’s Drumbad Fletcher Moss (by Frederiksminde Hazy Match out of Robe Grey Abbey), bred by Jim Fergueson in Co Fermanagh was at his best. Moving with grace and elegance, he took the red ahead of Padraic Gannon’s Cornarone Hazy Lad.

Beautiful mares dominated and won their age groups, including last year’s reserve champion, Malachy Gorham’s Kingstown Diana (by Linsford Barney out of Kingstown Dana), who headed the four and five-year-old class from Sean Dunne’s Garryhinch Vanilla (by Monaghanstown Boy out of Bank Vanilla).

Carrowkeel Star (by Currachmore Cashel out of Lishin Star), owned and bred by Tomás and Fiona Grimes from Ballinrobe, Co Mayo, blazed a trail of success that led her to the reserve champion of the show sash by winning the six or seven-year-old mares class from Cathy Snow Coyne and Martin Coyne’s Kilpatrick Snowdrop (by Moorland Snowy River out of Kilpatrick Holly).

Grimes was again in the winner’s enclosure with Carrowkeel Star’s dam Lishin Star (by Glencarrig Prince out of Dunlewey Lisheen Liath). Bred by Joe Cunniffe at Barna, she received the red in the 10 to 15-year-old class, ahead of Noel Noonan’s Banks Vanilla.

For the Grimes family, it was a breeders’ dream come true to win two classes and stand reserve supreme champion on the same day at Clifden and the occasion was shared by their many friends and family present.

Noel Noonan’s Rosscon Windy Lady (by Laerkens Cascade Dawn out of Winnie), a winner at Clifden in 2010 and 2011, made it three in a row when, exhibited by Meave Conneely, she headed the line-up in a star-studded eight to nine-year-old mares class.

Henry O’Toole completed a stable double with Castle Urchin (by Abbeyleix Owen out of Castle Dame). Since she was shown as a foal, Urchin has now won a class in every age group at Clifden including two supreme championships. Her achievements will go down in many history books.

Small proved beautiful as Pat and Cathriona O’Toole’s Buttermilk Ruby (by Earl of Newbridge out of Buttermilk Diana) were awarded the Paddy Carr Memorial Trophy for winning the no greater than 13.2hh class.

Marjorie Hardiman from Oranmore had her gelding Creganna Dandin in pristine condition, which earned him the Graham Tulloch Memorial trophy.

Sisters Lara and Jane Field won the lead rein and young handlers classes with Lahinch owner Deirdre O’Laoi’s mare Venus.

The foal champion was Cathal Mullen’s filly Gurteen Jennifer, by the supreme champion Glencarrig Knight, exhibited by Pat Mullen, she comes from a long line of reliable winners in the show ring, tracing back through her dam Gurteen Eimer (Linsford Barney-Independent)

Reserve foal of the show was Martin Keaney’s fine-looking colt Murvey Dexter by the famous Dexter Leam Pondi out of Murvey Rita.

Loose jumping: The loose jumping final saw over 20 hopefuls put through their paces and the €500 prize was awarded to Peter Tonery from Rockwood, Co Galway as owner of the fluent Mount Ross Sprinter (by Lycon Cong Blossom out of Glencarrig Annie). The winner was bred by Mattie Hughes in Bushypark, Galway. The runner-up was Clive Swindell’s Banagher De Bregeon (by Poetic Justice out of Luna De Bregeon), who was bred in Normandy, France by Eugenie Carpentier.

Family working hunter: Young riders aged under 16 competed in the family working hunter class with prizes in kind. This class was won by Anna Corless from Ballyconneely on The Caherview Boy, from Maeadhbh O’Neill from Ballyconneely riding Gleann Rua Magic.

Madeleine Beckman: At a meeting of the International Connemara Pony Societies held at the Station House Hotel prior to the Connemara Pony Festival, Mrs Madeleine Beckman was appointed as the new chairman of the international society. A respected judge and vet who is also attached to the Department of Agriculture in Sweden, Beckman replaces Dermot Power, whose term of office had expired. Ms Karen Holloway from Australia was appointed the new vice chairperson. She said: “We look forward to working with the Connemara Pony Breeders Society on issues such as integration of all international studbooks to enable the Connemara pony herd to remain consistent and true to type.”

Quality catalogue: The show committee and office staff associated with Clifden are to be congratulated for producing a superb catalogue with accurate information and a top class results service.

Green Hunter: The Irish Connemara Green Hunter for four-year-olds is now fully established as a major attraction on the opening day of the festival on Wednesday, thanks to many hours of hard work by the organisers Ann Reade, Denise Norton and Carole O’Connor. Judges Tony Ennis and Celine Essame selected Mrs Susan Gageby-Denham’s homebred Bertraghboy Beau Gest (by Gwennic de Goariva out of Maoilisa) as their winner. Beautifully ridden by Alicia Devlin Byrne, the pair took the red rosette ahead of Yukon, owned by Eddie Hannigan from Oldtown, Co Dublin and ridden by Sandra Hannigan.

Best handler: The William Diamond Trophy for the best handler at the show was awarded to Amy Curran from Moycullen.