THE Irish Pony Breeders Group held their annual foal show in Piperstown Equestrian Centre with the added addition of a yearling class. Although numbers were low, the quality and turnout was exceptional with native ponies proving the outright winners though the day.

The lovely chesnut Welsh Section A foal Clanmill Whizz, Bang, Pop, owned by Eileen Miller, had a very successful day winning the Welsh championship and the pony foal championship. Surely a true top-class M&M Lead Rein of the future for his little rider who also took home prizes in the raffle to keep herself and her parents very happy.

Reserve was Tim Hurley’s filly Lecarum Easter Bouquet who made it a very successful day by also winning the yearling class with Harwel drummer Boy. Both his ponies were successful purchases from Fayre Oakes Welsh pony sales.

The performance foal class was very interesting to spectators as the foals were let loose in the arena to show their natural paces and were marked on conformation, walk, trot and canter. The winner was Sharon Walshe’s Pineview Junior Boss and he could be an interesting future stallion for the Connemara cross breeders.

Supreme honours

The Connemara Champion and later Supreme Champion was Aine Geoghegan’s lovely colt foal Cairin Glas Boy. A lovely well grown foal by Glencarrig Knight out of Hannah’s Dream, he is doubtless a pony with a big future in-hand and later ridden.

Tribute was paid to all the generous sponsors and the group looks forward to planning a very successful show again next year.