FARRELL’s field never looked better and the sun shone all day for the 13th Annual Show at Roundstone. Tony Walsh from Moycullen opened the show winning the yearling filly class with Moyabbey Mist (Glencarrig Prince-Glencarrig Heather). Errislannon breeder Raymond Conneely with his colt Bell Dun Shadow (Bay Shadow-Belle Supreme) won the colt section.
A nice class of two-year-old fillies saw red going to Patrick Curran’s Glencarrig Sea Breeze (Glencarrig Knight-Glencarrig Scarlet).
There was plenty of interest in the small but select three-year-old filly class as Amy Curran’s Glencarrig Princess Katie (Glencarrig Knight-Glencarrig Princess) stood ahead of Michael O’Malley’s Cregduff Camilla, a daughter of Banks Timber and Cregduff Queen)
In the two and three-year-old colts’ class, Patrick McGrath from Cregduff produced the well-coupled colt Smokey Dancer (Tempo Active Atlas, out of the Tulira Robuck Mare Smokey Breeze) who hails from the late Murty McGrath’s iconic foundation bloodline.
The Curran family excelled in the Junior Championship, with yet another champion sash awarded to Glencarrig Princess Katie, exhibited by Gearoid Curran, and Patrick Curran’s Glencarrig Sea Breeze in reserve.
There was a good selection of foals in both classes, Paddy Kearns from Brocklodge Stud in Mountmellick produced the well-balanced filly Brocklodge Hope (Brocklodge Buster-Loughmore Suzy) who won her class and the foal championship. The colt Derryinver Fionn (Cloncarra Fionn-Derrylough Dandelion), owned by Brid and John Heanue from Ballinrobe was deservedly judged reserve.
Looking a picture when winning the four years and over stallion class, Joe Burke from Cloonisle Stud exhibited the hugely successful all round stallion Banks Timber (Telgstrup Duke-Banks Square Do Do).
The mare classes at Roundstone were a sight to behold, with quality and quantity it was all that Connemara has to offer.
EXCEPTIONAL MARES
The four to six mares’ winner was Peter O’Toole’s Castle Pippa (Glencarrig Knight-Village Linnet) ahead of Ember Grey (Lake Lad-Curraghcourt Lady), owned by Tomas and Fiona Grimes from Ballinrobe, Patrick and Audrey O’Donnell’s Crusheen Bettyspark Lady (Hazy Match-Crusheen Katie) took third prize.
Many of the seven to 12 mares were champions in their own right, but the judges opted for Henry O’Toole’s Castle Pearl as their winner from Peter O’Malley’s consistent Glenlo Lady (Laerkens Cascade Dawn-Lady Windsor) with Damien Gorham’s Doonhill Queen (Currachmore Cashel-Connemara Lady) in third.
Peter Keane from Rahoon went home happy after winning the 13 years and over with the quality Kiltullagh Lass (Gloves Bobby-White Rose).
The bay class was a joy to watch and the winner was Michael Connelly’s Cloonboney Summer (Lightening Star-Monaghanstown Maeve).
Young Ronan Nee from Cashel handled his pony Dusty Oak really well when winning the open youth class ahead of Patrick Keaney and Murvey Grace.
Judges Mary Moore and Shauna Finneran were thorough and consistent all day and it must be said that the line-up for the Championship was as good as it gets.
They awarded Supreme Championship honours to Henry O’Toole’s Castle Pearl, exhibited by his son Michael, with Banks Timber and Joe Burke standing reserve.
Produced from the covering between the late stallion Janus, who stud at the Castle stud, and broodmare Castle Melody, a precious jewel has emerged in Castle Pearl. Her dam is by I Love You Melody out of Henry O’Toole’s great mare Castle Urchin (Abbeyleix Owen-Castle Dame). ‘Pearl’ is a true to type Connemara Pony with a bright future.