DESPITE torrential rain last Thursday, Irish Pony Society members were delighted to attend the IPS Championship Show and the atmosphere never dampened weather aside.

With over 120 classes and 40 Championships over the two days, the Barnadown host venue was a hive of action. This year the IPS held qualifier classes for Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) which added to the excitement.

The judges were very complimentary on the quality of both the venue, the course-building, and animals that came through their rings. The highlight of Thursday was the HOYS qualifiers with four riders winning their golden tickets.

Alicia Devlin Byrne qualified her pony Blackwood Fernando in the M&M Working Hunter exceeding 143cms, Amber Marnane riding Melanie Marnane’s Danny’s Pride qualified in the M&M Working Hunter not exceeding 143cms, Aisling Connolly’s Twyford Captain Morgan, ridden by Ella Connolly, won the qualifying ticket in the M&M Working Hunter not exceeding 133cms and Sarah Keane, riding Avril Hobson’s Tynffrwd Carys, qualified in the not exceeding 122cms. There will be a very exciting trip to Birmingham in October for these riders.

Thursday also saw the Overall Mini Championship being judged with Edwina O’Connor’s Linksbury Goldilocks, ridden by Finn Redmond, going forward to the Supreme held the next day.

The Tom Robinson Gold Cup, always a favourite at the two-day show, saw high numbers riding the three phases - dressage, show jumping and Working Hunter. The overall winner of the Gold Cup was Alisha Vard riding Yvonne Vard’s Blackwood Land Breeze. Alisha had won the overall dressage and show jumping earlier in the day. Marjorie Hardiman’s Creganna Dancer, ridden by Lara Field, won the overall Working Hunter competition.

Friday saw much brighter weather and the start of the HOYS Price In-Hand Championship. Over 55 ponies and horses entered in the 26 qualifying classes. Nine ponies qualified from their championships to be judged in front of visiting judge Katie Walsh. Katie had an illustrious career as a National Hunt jockey and was well placed to choose the overall champion to represent the IPS at HOYS.

Regina Daly’s Say No More (Hunter Breeding & Sporthorse Champion), Gemma Conlon’s Lisbrogan Tigerbillie (Hack/Riding Horse Champion), Aidan Williamson’s Goldengrove Temptress (Show Pony Champion), Jerry Moloney’s Breenybeg Hope (Show Hunter Pony Champion), Breid Shannon’s Absolutely Broadgrove (Part-Bred Champion), Noel Noonan’s Manor Duke (Connemara Champion & M&M Large Breeds Champion), Emma Blakely’s Floreat Cosmos (Welsh Section A Champion), Aidan Williamson’s Hilin Hibiscus (Welsh Section B Champion) and Antony Bell’s Wikners Gryffindor (M&M Small Breeds Champion) were a superb spectacle in the main arena in Barnadown.

One pony especially caught the eye of the judge and she awarded the golden ticket to Noel Noonan’s Manor Duke (Dam: Banks Vanilla; Sire: Currachmore Cashel) which was led on the day by Joe Burke.

The day culminated in the Supreme Championship which was quite a spectacle with judges sitting and young IPS members still in their jodhpurs holding up the judges’ marks behind them as the spectators quickly tallied each score. Each champion passed before the judges putting on a display to show their pony’s potential with nine ponies in contention for the Supreme title.

Mini Champion Linksbury Goldiocks ridden by Finn Redmond, Part-Bred Champion Goldengrove Temptress ridden by Victoria Burns, Coloured Champion Creganna Dancer ridden by Lara Field, Starter Stakes Champion Twyford Captain Morgan ridden by Ella Connolly, Intermediate Champion Country Strong ridden by Lily Nadir, M&M Champion ridden by Nicole O’Shaughnessy, Working Hunter Champion Indian Joe ridden by Ivan Ryan and Connemara Champion Creganna Belle ridden by Lara Field, all riding for the judges’ marks.

Supreme honours

A delighted Nicole O’Shaughnessy, riding Imelda O’Shaughnessy’s young Welsh Pony Cargwyn Finality, was called forward as Supreme Champion and presented with the Supreme Cup which was nearly taller than herself.

Aisling Connolly’s Twyford Captain Morgan, ridden by Ella Connolly, was presented with the Reserve Championship.

Thank you to all the volunteers, judges and competitors for making this such a lovely show.