KILLUSTY Pony Show held their 60th Anniversary show in the idyllic location at the foot of Slievenamon recently. Entries were magnificent with over 270 ponies and horses on the day, a credit to all the organisers.

Many newcomers from all over the country came to experience success at Killusty. The committee were delighted to have new qualifiers this year for Oughterard and Iverk which attracted competitors to their Connemara Working Hunter and Ridden Cob classes respectively.

Killusty Show was first established to showcase the quality youngstock being bred in the area. This 60th anniversary year proved no exception with competitors travelling from all over Ireland to experience success in those classes.

The show appreciates the support of Horse Sport Ireland and their generous sponsorship for the Show Hunter Pony Broodmare, the Connemara Broodmare and the yearling purebred Connemara classes. There were outstanding entries in the youngstock Connemara classes. It was heartwarming to see 13 entries in the two and three-year-old Connemara in hand class, and ensures the breeding of the Connemara pony is safe in the area.

The ridden Connemara classes were also well supported. Pat O’Brien’s Connemara mare A Touch of Class was back in the winner’s enclosure and won the Connemara Led Championship, retaining the Sarah Miller Perpetual Cup. Willie Glesson’s Moore Abbey Mary was the reserve in the championship. Derek Walsh’s Springmount Clio Star won the Connemara Youngstock Championship and took home the Knockelly Castle Perpetual Cup.

The committee invested time and effort in preparing a Derby Working Hunter Course in ring five. This coincided with the preparation for IPS International Working Hunter Championships in Scotland and proved worthwhile as competitors flocked to try out the course. The show invested in five popular jumps, similar to those seen in the RDS. The Novice Working Hunter Championship was won by Tracy Kearney’s Hollywood Chase Me Charlie, ridden by Jamie Browne, and they took home the Bill Holohan Perpetual Cup.

The Open Working Hunter Championship was won by Maeve Kennedy’s Blackwoodland Breeze, ridden by Evie Kennedy. The Open Working Hunter Pony Championship was very generously sponsored by the Butler family in memory of Mrs Judy Butler, one of the founding members of Killusty Pony Show. Her daughter, Diana Butler presented the Mrs Judy Butler Perpetual Cup to Evie Kennedy.

This year saw the introduction of the Racehorse to Riding Horse Class, generously sponsored by Tattersalls Ireland. Nine horses competed for superb prize money. Fionnuala Gleeson’s Feelin Groovy won the class and Luke Coen presented the prize on behalf of Tattersalls.

Special trophies presented

A very special prize was given this year by Mrs Rita Lyons in memory of her sister Ms Madeline O’Donnell, a loyal supporter of the show. Tiernan Gahan, Fethard, was the fortunate winner of the magnificent trophy on the day.

There were super entries in the Ladies Side Saddle Class and the Junior Side Saddle Class. It was wonderful to see the next generation of young ladies keeping this tradition alive for the future. Lynne Hincks donated a trophy in memory of her mother, Mrs Cecelia Sullivan (née O’Flaherty), which was won by Olivia Connolly on Baronstown Poppy.

The Small Hunter Championship proved very successful with qualifying rounds held at various shows including, Kingdom County Fair, Glandoran Island Show, Belgooly Show, Western Area IPS Show, Raheendaw Horse and Pony Show and Ballyfoyle Agricultural Show. The final was held at Killusty and Brian Murphy’ Flurry Knox was the Champion. The ridden cob class was very well supported and Brian Murphy’s Kilkenny Marble and G.F. Walker’s Liskevin Banks qualified for the final at Iverk. A cob pony class, introduced this year, proved very popular with Charlotte Walsh on Tinakelly Rosie taking home first place.

The first ever mini supreme championship and supreme championship was held at Killusty this year. The winner of the Mini-Supreme was Orla Whelton’s Whiteleaze Secret Temptation, ridden by Stephanie Fleming. This was generously sponsored by Coolmore Stud. The supreme championship was won by Rachel Lane’s Barkway Stake Affair, ridden by Amber Lane. The reserve champion was Emily Widger’s The General ridden by Hannah Mackey.

Chairman of Killusty Pony Show, Pat Culligan, said: “A very special ‘thank you’ to the Walsh family for their kind permission to use their field to host the July 1st show. The committee greatly appreciates the support of all sponsors, as without their continued support, the show would not be possible. To all the competitors, who travelled from near and far, we hope that you left Killusty with fond memories of the show.”