THE North West Ireland Association of the Welsh Pony and Cob society held a well-attended awards night in the Merry Monk Ballina, Co. Mayo recently.
The first section to be recognised was the Welsh Section A’s with Co Wicklow exhibitor Laurie Kearon taking the senior section with her home-bred Ballinacarrig April Sapphire, and Laura Ann Downey getting the perfect birthday present by taking the youngstock and overall Section A award with the yearling Rhydfelin Seldom.
Michael Galvin from Miltown Malbay had a clean sweep in the Section B category with his Section B youngsters Trefan Betsan and Llangitho Sparkle, who were regularly seen on the show circuit this summer. Cherie Devanney’s Section B gelding Saltre Commanchero was the winner of the four-year-old and over Section B category.
Carmen Burke’s Bluehaven Discovery was the sole representative in the Section C category and picked up an award in both the in-hand and ridden categories. Sarah Killeen from Slane, Co. Meath, repeated last year’s win by once again heading up the Section D category with Brynegluer Bertie, with Susan Drums Abercippyn Melfed Ddu in reserve.
Aidan Williamson won the part-bred youngstock section with the yearling filly Goldengrove Temptress, and Ann Grimes’s successful mare Lambay for Fun won the senior division.
The broodmare title went to Marian Judges Waterglades Gemini, who was shown this year with an attractive coloured colt foal at foot.
Sarah Beer’s popular Section A stallion Rhydwillaim Cockatoo took the overall stallion award for the third consecutive time, just edging out Michaela Stein Keatings Section B Wian William.
Pauline Corr took the inaugural driving award with her Section A Brynseion Medallion. Sarah Killeen featured again by taking the performance gelding award with Brynegluer Bertie, ahead of the new partnership of Anna Rose Scott on the evergreen Kenilworth Monarch whose overall total was boosted by two wins at the BSPS championships in Grantham. Isobel Rymer partnered the pony in his lead rein classes.
HOTLY CONTESTED
The mini ridden ponies were a hotly contested category with Jordan Murphy, taking the purebred section on regular prize-winner at these awards, Waxwing Pimms. Kenilwood Monarch was the runner-up in this section.
The mini part-bred ridden category went to young Cork rider Amelia O’Halloran on her mother’s Fielden Chrys-O- Lite.
This partnership racked up a long list of wins this season in both lead rein and first ridden classes, culminating in winning the First Ridden class at the RDS in Dublin last July. Her fantastic results were recognised with the partnership taking the overall leading pony in the NWIAWPCS Awards.
Oonagh Gilvarry’s awards newcomer Fofsway Ganymede took the runner-up spot in the mini part-bred ridden section with the ride being shared by her sons Ruairi and Ronan.
The award for the member with the most accumulated points for the 2016 season was won by Melissa O’Connor whose four ponies, Waxwing Pimms, Paulank Mustang, Linksbury Goldilocks and Brandon Zimbabwe contributed to her total.
The family travelled up from Wexford and cousins Jordan Murphy and Ciara O’Connor collected their awards on the night.
Jordan is lamenting the fact that he will not have his dependable pony Waxwing Pimms next year, as she has been sold on to another showing family, but he is looking forward to new challenges and his sister Jessica, who had to miss the night due to hunting commitments, has a new team of exciting novices to campaign next year.
Nicola Dee won the part-bred ridden section for the larger ponies on the 128cms mare Whittaker’s Duchess, with Megan Devanney on Goldengrove Socrates in reserve.
The large purebred ridden Section was won by Susan Drum’s Section D Abercippyn DDU, whose regular rider is Natasha Burns.
At the end of the night, the bronze and performance medals won at the Overseas Medal Show in May were presented to the successful recipients. Next year’s Overseas Medal Show will go ahead at Ballinrobe Racecourse on Sunday, May 21st 2017.
NWIAWPCS 2016 AWARD WINNERS
Welsh Section A youngstock 1, Lauren Ann Downey’s Rhydfelin Seldom 2, Cathy Brodie’s Meisgyn Captain Sam 3, Laurie Kearon’s Ballinacarrig Arya.
Section B youngstock 1, Michael Galvin’s Trefan Betsan 2, Michael Galvin’s Llangitho Sparkle 3, Aidan Williamson’s Cadlan Crusader.
Part-bred youngstock 1, Aidan Williamson’s Goldengrove Temptress.
In-hand
Section A 1, Laurie Kearon’s Ballinacarrig April Sapphire; 2, Sarah Beers’s Blackhill Ingrid; 3, Cathy Brodie’s Ifan Llanarw.
Section B 1, Cherie Devaney’s Saltre Commanchero Ann Grimes’s Brookhill Emma Lilley Catherine Boylan’s Janpete Miss Dior.
Section C Carmen Burke’s Bluehaven Discovery.
Section D Sarah Killeen’s Brynegluer Bertie Susan Drum’s Abercippyn Melfed Ddu Susan Drum’s Aberpennar Sirol.
Part-bred, four-year-old and over 1, Ann Grimes’s Lambay For Fun Marian Judge’s Waterglades Gemini Cherie Devaney’s Goldgengrove Alazar.
Ridden
Mini, pure-bred 1, Jordan Murphy’s Waxwing Pimms Anna Rose Scott & Isobel Rymer’s Kenilwood Monarch Ciara O’Connor’s Linksbury Goldilocks.
Mini, part-bred Amelia O’Halloran’s Fielden Chrys-O-Lite Ronan & Ruairi Gilvarrey’s Fofsway Ganymede Anna Rose Scott & Isobel Rymer’s Dryfe Elizabeth Arden.
Pure-bred , Natasha Burns’s Abercippyn Melfed Ddu Sarah Killeen’s Brynegluer Bertie Michaela Steyn-Keating’s Wian William.
Part-bred Nicola Dee’s Whitaker Duchess Megan Devaney’s Goldengrove Socrates Jessica Murphy’s Brandon Zimbabwe.
Overall champions
Section A Rhydfelin Seldom; reserve: Meisgyn Captain Sam
Section B Trefan Betsan; reserve: Llangitho Sparkle
Section C Bluehaven Discovery
Section D Brynegluer Bertie
Part-bred Fielden Chrys-O-Lite; reserve: Fofsway Ganymede
Mini ridden Fielden Chrys-O-Lite; reserve: Waxwing Pimms
Ridden Whitaker Duchess; reserve: Goldengrove Socrates
Stallion Rhydgwillim Cockatoo; reserve: Wian William
Broodmare Waterglades Gemini; reserve: Lambay For Fun
Driven Brynseoin Medallion
Purebred performance gelding Brynegluer Bertie; reserve: Kenilworth Monarch
Overall champion Fielden Chrys-O-Lite; reserve: Trefan Betsan
Overall members points Melissa O’Connor
Overseas bronze/performance medals
Section A Joanne Harper’s Ravara Tiger Lily
Section B Michael Galvin’s Trefan Betsan
Section C- Carmen Burke’s Bluehaven Discovery
Section D Susan Drum’s Aberpennar Sirol
Part-bred Claire Scott & Sarah Rymer’s Goldengrove Starstruck
Mini performance Ruairi Gilvarrey’s Fofsway Ganymede
Performance Megan Devanney’s Goldengrove Socrates
Reserve Michael Galvin