THE performance entry at the 15th annual Midlands Connemara Pony Breeders Show last weekend was one that many country show can only dream of. Over 300 ponies passed through the three rings at Mullingar Equestrian, where big prize money was a major draw.

The committee worked hard to get extensive sponsorship for the show and the commitment from main sponsors Willows Ingredients Ltd meant a huge prize fund of €1,500 in the working hunter championship.

That title went to Nicola Walsh who was riding her own Robe Johnson-sired gelding Cluainin Robb. Winner of the earlier Willows Ingredients Ltd 1.05m class, she went home with €1,000 in prize money and the sponsors’ trophy, presented by David and Carmelia Scrivens.

Emily McCourt from Dundalk rode to victory in the Devenish-sponsored Sarah Miller Future Performance class, specifically for mares or geldings between the age of five and nine. McCourt rode the nine-year-old Tulira Robuck gelding Rathbane Legend to victory to receive the Sarah Miller Perpetual trophy.

Rathbane Legend is a former RDS winner, having won the Junior Connemara Performance Hunter in 2016 under Emily McGowan.

On the flat, side saddle rider Thomasina O’Reilly was crowned the ridden champion in the afternoon after winning the first class in the morning with her own Rosscon Camille, a 10-year-old mare by Boden Park Finnard who is no stranger to red rosettes.

Jenny Lindsay came through a big class of eight mares to be subsequently awarded the reserve sash from Connolly’s Red Mills representative Anthony Flaherty.