THE All Ireland Annual Welsh Show is always an action-packed day and this year was no different. With almost 100 ridden classes for all ages, side saddle and performance jumping, from the small section A up to the impressive Section D cobs, both Welsh and non-Welsh ponies were kept busy. The introduction of performance and registered Welsh jumping was very well received with good entries and hotly contested classes.

This year saw the introduction of the first ever Sports Pony Lead Rein in Ireland in which jumping, precision and obedience were required. While open to all ponies, it was won by a purebred Welsh pony, Llanfrechfa Desir, owned by Daphne Scholtzs. The request of many members to include a First Ridden section in this category will be certainly taken into consideration for next year.

There were four rings running simultaneously and the atmosphere was electric with good quality entries. The Performance and M & M Working Hunters were an added feature to this year’s show and classes were well supported. The Welsh ponies proved their jumping ability along with many other entrants. A full compliment of IPS-ridden classes were also well filled with quality animals.

Once again high calibre judges from the UK judged the show – Peter de Rade of Zonneweide Stud had the position of judging the Led Welsh Medal classes while Tracy Hook of Kemysfawr Stud oversaw the performance and mini classes.

It was great to see most sections of the medal classes filled this year. The Section Cs and Ds, with their power and elegance, easily caught the eye of spectators. While some of the classes were lightly filled, there was quality and plenty of potential for future riding classes to be seen.

Ring one saw Peter de Rade award his overall champion to Josephine O’Driscoll’s lovely and consistent mare, Waithwith Sabrina with Laurie Kearon’s Ballinacarrig Tyrion, the Youngstock champion, taking reserve.

The Section C Champion was Laurie Kearon’s bay Amicis Top Tottie, a great example of this breed. It would be lovely to see more of these ponies in Ireland as they have great jumping ability.

WELL-SUPPORTED

The Section Ds was a well-supported section with quality animals forward. The youngstock and reserve Section D champion was a smart chesnut filly, owned by Dawn Thomas, Brenig April Grace, with Sarah Kileen’s Broerig Midnight Star in reserve. The black Section D stallion Abercippyn Discovery, owned by Susan Drum, achieved the medal in this section.

The Section Bs followed and the medal was awarded to Ann Grimes’ beautiful grey mare Brookhall Emma Lilley and the Overall Purebred and the Youngstock champion John Dinneen’s smart bay colt Janpete Diamond Geezer returning reserve to her.

In the part-bred section, the Youngstock Champion was a locally bred dun gelding by the name of Glenmullen Augustus and this pony was reserve to the medal winner and overall part-bred, the wonderfully consistent mare Goldengrove Hermione, owned by Margaret Greene. Reserve overall was the Ridden Champion Leap Rascal.

The ridden Welsh section was very well supported and some lovely ponies took part. Due to a change in the rules with the WPCS which affected the number of ponies eligible, there was only one medal winner in this section on the day. Goldengrove Hero was awarded the WPCS medal for the mini pony.

Brendan Lawlor’s Amesbury Queen Bee, Daphne Scholtzs’ Crumpwell Blue Lukey took Champion and reserve in this section with Michelle Brennan’s Leap Rascal winning the Ridden Performance class.

Our thanks to the support of the Irish Shows Association which allows for the provision of such a variety of classes, encouraging both breeders and ridden ponies alike.