THE rescheduled ridden classes from the 99th Connemara Pony Breeders’ Society Show were held at Galway Equestrian Centre on Saturday, September 28th, by kind permission of the O’Brien family.

There were many withdrawals from the original entries for the ridden classes, which were due to be held in Clifden in August, but CPBS president Daragh Kevin Ó Tuairisg said there was a “wonderful atmosphere” on the day, with ridden champion Toby Lambe and working hunter champion Diarmuid Ryan dominating a number of classes.

“Firstly, I want to express my sincere appreciation to the volunteers, sponsors and entire team for this year’s annual Connemara Pony Breeders Show,” Ó Tuairisg said.

“The day was filled with great displays of our beloved Connemara ponies, a strong sense of the Connemara pony community, and a wonderful atmosphere enjoyed by all in attendance.

“A particularly heartwarming aspect of the event was the generous donation made by the O’Brien family. They graciously decided to donate the money that was paid for the facilities to the Galway Hospice. This act of kindness shows the true spirit of the greater Connemara Pony community. Overall, it was a memorable day for everyone involved, and I am already looking forward to next year’s show.”

Mr Ó Tuairisg also reiterated his hope for the show to return to Clifden.

“The CPBS council want the annual Connemara Pony Breeders show for 2025 to return to our Showgrounds in Clifden,” he said. “The society have met with the Connemara Chamber of Commerce and elected representatives and have requested their assistance in ensuring that happens.”

Ridden classes

Winner of class 24, the four- and five-year-old ridden pony (rider 10 years and over) was Joan Dahill’s Glencairn Fredrick (by Inisowen), ridden by Pauline Dahill. In second place was Tazmin Murray’s Boffin Cove Finn, a five-year-old by Rathcoona Cove, ridden by Murray and Carrownurlaur Chris, a four-year-old by All Smoke, was third with Hannah Gordon.

Winner of class 25, the six- to eight-year-old ridden pony (rider 10 years old and over) was Anna Dangerfield riding Rose Mary Fitzgerald’s Corabbey Wild Poppy, a seven-year-old mare by Kingstown Setanta.

In class 26, the four-year-old and over ridden pony (rider 10 to 16 years), was Caitlin Weatherup riding Sternbergs Lovely Lorraine. Dawn Ladd Finn was second in this class riding Corabbey Wild Poppy, winner of class 25. Third place went to Aoife Brennan riding Knockmenagh Eloise, a five-year-old mare by I Love You Melody.

In class 27, four-year-old and over ridden pony (rider over 16 and under 21), Isia Gornik was the victor with City View Fuinnseoig, a seven-year-old mare by Killacoran Fuinnseoig. In second place was Lilly Berry McLaughlin with her own General Sinatra, a 12-year-old by General Humbert. Third place went to Lily Larkin riding Carramore Lassie, a five-year-old by Caherlistrane Prince.

In class 28, four-year-old and over ridden pony (rider over 21), it was class 24 winner Pauline Dahill, who took home the spoils, this time riding Niamh Melody’s Nire Valley Hope, a 15-year-old mare by Glencarrig Prince. Taking home the blue rosette was Kiara Dempsey, who rode Lisnadrisha Nikia (Silver Shadow). Owner Rose Mary Fitzgerald had further success here, with her pony Corabbey Athena Kate, a five-year-old by Kingstown Setanta, taking third with Anna Dangerfield.

In class 29, 138cm and under ridden pony, mares and geldings four years and over (rider 10 and over), Co Limerick’s Emily Collins emerged vistorious on her own four-year-old Killoughter Watson gelding, Coose Sammy. Roisin Lucey was second with Norma Lucey’s Doe Mick, an eight-year-old by Odysseus Melody. Cecily Guinness Von Maltzan rode KCF Guinness and Countess Maltzan’s Dunlewy Marabou, a 16-year-old gelding by Ashfield Plover, into third place.

Class 30, stallion four years and over (rider 14 years and over), produced the ridden champion in class winner Bettyspark Shadow, a seven-year-old by Silver Shadow and ridden by Toby Lambe for Sophie Countess Von Maltzan.

Second place went to Co Wexford’s Melissa O’Connor riding Barr A Leam Shadow, a four-year-old by I Love You Melody. In third was Tara Roche riding Inisowen, a 13-year-old by Letterdyfe Rira.

Class 32, four-year-old and over ridden pony (rider under 14 years), produced the reserve champion ridden pony in winner of both this class and class 28, Niamh Melody’s Nire Valley Hope, ridden here by Raven Joyce.

Second was Cara Foley riding Sue Ann Foley’s Thorndale Melody, a seven-year-old mare by I Love You Melody. Cecily Guinness Von Maltzan was in the ribbons again in this class, taking home yellow this time with Dunlewey Ringmaster (Dunlewey Goshawk).

Jumping classes

Daragh O'Tuairisg presents the cup to Norma and Roisin Lucey, winning owner and rider of the High Performance champion Doe Mick at the 2024 Connemara Pony Show, held at Galway Equestrian Centre \ Sagittarian Photography

Raven Joyce continued her winning streak in class 35, Family Working Hunter for mares and geldings four years and over (rider under 16), this time with William Griffin’s Hogan’s Charm, a four-year-old by Ross Fear Bui. Dawn Ladd Finn took home another blue ribbon here with Corabbey Wild Poppy, winner too of class 25 with Anna Dangerfield. Aoife Brennan was third with Knockmenagh Eloise, having also been third with this mare in class 26.

Hogan’s Charm scored yet another win in the next class (36), the Green Hunter final for four-year-olds, this time with Pauline Dahill in the saddle. Dahill passed the reins of Glencairn Fredrick to Alicia Devlin Byrne for this class and the pair scored second. Third place went to Jenny Fitzsimons riding her own Loughwell Lucas (Atlantic Tiger).

Diarmuid Ryan won the next two classes, class 37, Performance Working Hunter Pony four years and over (rider 10 years and over), and class 38, four- to six-year-old Potential Working Hunter Pony, with Laura Whitney’s Galtee Setanta, a four-year-old by Kinvara Boy. They also went on to win class 41 (Working Hunter over four (rider over 16) and won the Working Hunter Championship. Ryan was also joint winner of the Puissance and third in the High Performance aboard Pem Boy.

“It was unreal, but I knew he (Galtee Setanta) had the quality to do well, as he had won two Dublin qualifiers this year, he also qualified for the high performance at Clifden, but I decided to ride the other pony in that class on Saturday,” Ryan said.

“He was very easy to produce and will make a superb jumper or eventer, as well as doing well in the show ring, he is for sale so his future owner will be very lucky.

“The day was well-run and the surface was fantastic, although I did find it a shame that the Puissance was going to go straight up from 148 to 158cm, which is why we decided to leave it at 148.”

Alicia Devlin Byrne scored second after Ryan in class 37 with Peter Lawlor’s seven-year-old stallion I Love You Jazz, followed by Edwina O’Connor riding the experienced Agharanny Minstrel (Castleside JJ).

In class 38, Dahill was in the ribbons once more, coming second behind Ryan on Hogan’s Charm, as well as third on Glencairn Fredrick.

Class 39, 138cm and under Working Hunter (rider 10 years and over), went to Co Mayo’s Liam De Courcey riding the 10-year-old mare Gracies Heather Belle (Currachmore Cashel).

Class 40, four-year-old and over Working Hunter (rider under 16 years), went to joint winners Nicole Brennan riding Tullymore Silver (Silver Shadow) and Roisin Lucey riding Doe Mick.

Lucey went on to win the High Performance final with ridden section champion and winners of the stallion WH class 42, Toby Lambe and Bettyspark Shadow, the runners-up. Lambe was also crowned as reserve working hunter champion.

Commenting on a successful day, Sophie Countess Von Maltzan said: “He’s had a sensational season, and I’m so proud because he was the first foal I bought (we usually breed), so we now have a lovely new stallion for our mares. Toby came to us for a summer job and they have developed a super partnership, but we really owe a lot to our dressage coach Judy Cazabon and jumping coach Cormac Rafferty, we are so lucky to have them.”

Second and third to Diarmuid Ryan in class 41 were Emelie Larkin and Knocknippy Nidge and Jessica Murphy riding Doonreaghan Oak.

Second and third to Toby Lambe in class 42 were Edwina O’Connor and Agharanny Minstrel and Lexi Treacy riding Brock Blizzard.

The thrilling Puissance competition was won jointly by three entrants at 148cm. These were Talitha Diamond riding Sea Storm (Ballinavilla Prince), Bernadette de Courcey riding Lisrua River (Glenayre Silver Fox) and Diarmuid Ryan riding Pem Boy (Clifden Silver).

This report was compiled based on results provided by the CPBS, full results will appear in next week’s results section.

Talitha Diamond (Sea Storm), Bernadette de Courcey (Lisrua River) and Diarmuid Ryan (Pem Boy), shared victory in the Puissance at the 2024 Connemara Pony Show, held at Galway Equestrian. Pictured with CPBS President Daragh O'Tuairisg, Sinead Hanley and judge Aubrey Chapman \ Sagittarian Photography