THE Midlands Connemara pony show was held in Mullingar Equestrian centre on July 28th was once again a huge success. The sun shone all day helping to make the event enjoyable for the large number of entries and it was gratifying for the new committee to see the continued support for the Midlands group from all corners of Ireland.

As always, Robert Fagan and his team at Mullingar Equestrian provided a setting for the show that was second to none.

Bryan and Niamh O’Halloran from Clifden, who have been long-time supporters of the show, took home the Supreme Championship and the coveted George and Mary Ledwith Cup with their outstanding mare, Cabra Jane. Standing reserve in the Supreme Championship was Grace Maxwell Murphy with Glencarrig Princess Ella.

The flagship All-Ireland broodmare championship was also generously sponsored by Alltech and was keenly contested. The eventual winner was Rathbane Lady, owned and exhibited by Stephen Dunne from Monasterevin, Co Kildare.

The Youngstock in the junior classes were of a very high standard and included many Clifden hopefuls. The Junior Championship was won by Henry O’Toole's Castle Matador after a very competitive Championship. Kieran McGrath from Claregalway took reserve champion with his three-year-old colt, Hazelrock Galaxy.

The foal classes displayed very high quality foals, proving that the future of the breed is in safe hands. Eugene Doyle from Castledaly, Moate, kept the flag flying for the Midlands, winning the filly foal class with Clonmore Rose, while Stephen Dune’s colt foal Charlesland Special Edition, by Caoranbeg Champ, took both the colt foal class and the foal championship.

There was a wide range of performance classes including flat ridden, working hunter, the Sarah Miller future performance pony, loose lunging and part-bred classes. All classes were extremely well supported. Dressage and side saddle were both added to the schedule this year.

The flat ridden classes were very competitive, with the DAFM ridden championship going to Cathy Cooper’s Tullaree Fear Bui. The DAFM performance working hunter championship, with a €1,000 prize, went to Rose Fitzgerald’s Corabbey Wild Poppy, ridden superbly by Anna Dangerfied.

The late Sarah Miller would have been very happy to see record entries in the future performance pony. The overall winning rosette went to Abigail Kenny’s Cupids Magic Shadow. Dressage was a new venture for the show this year, with Lilly Berry McLaughlin and General Sinatra claiming the top prize on the day.

Loose jumping

The loose jumping for both three-year-old and four-year-old ponies produced superb jumping performances. The three-year-old winner was Patrick Cafferty’s Pontoon Cruiser by Ross Fear Buí, with the four-year-old championship going to Aisling McGreal’s Townparks Jack by Canal Fred James.

The Midlands breeders’ group have expressed gratitude to everyone who made the day such a great success, including sponsors, judges, stewards and exhibitors. They look forward to the next event on September 8th in Moate, Co Westmeath, for a ‘Fillies Day Out’.