THE Irish Pony Society Championship show was held in the Cavan Equestrian Centre last weekend, by kind permission of the Clarke family. This was a return to the Cavan venue for the Championship show and it was great to see that numbers were up on previous years especially as the show clashed with both Clifden and the Irish Pony Club Eventing Championships.
It was a delight to see so many of members there on all three days despite the wet drizzly weather. The committee would like to thank all those who sponsored classes and those who assisted as stewards, scribes and helpers as they brought great fun, camaraderie and gentle slagging all weekend and assisted greatly in making the show run smoothly.
Show directors Ciara Durham and Peter Molloy spent the three days on walkie-talkies directing the events and with over 140 classes and 45 championships, they had a very difficult job which they both did with professionalism and a lot of humour.
The visiting British judges Mrs Jackie Beatham, Miss Julie Crowley, Mr Martin Jones and Mrs Amanda Gomersall commended the members on their turnout and fantastic home-produced ponies.
Continuing with the new format from last year, Thursday was predominately new members’ classes which were very well supported with TRM Ridden Champion going to Hotline Bling ridden by Sharon Kelly with Bantiss Alcazan (Amira Curran) taking the TRM Mini Championship. The Show Pony classes were judged by Jackie Beatham who chose Anton Cat Seraph ridden by Amber Marnane as Champion. The TRI Equestrian Elite Champion was Parkdene Private Affair ridden by Chloe Lacey and chosen by Amanda Gomersal.
Amira Curran, winner of the Novice Show Pony Championship at the IPS Championship Show at Cavan Equestrian (Photo: Sagittarian Photography)
The Connolly’s Red Mills Novice and Open Working Starter Stakes also took place on Thursday with both classes won by Lara Field on her two ponies Creganna Dancer and Glandrine Pied Piper and she went on to take Overall Reserve Starter Stakes with Glandrine Pied Piper with Creevlea Midnight Ramble ridden by Chloe Salley taking Overall Starter Stakes Champion after winning the Novice Show Starters earlier.
Thursday was topped off by the Fancy Dress competition which was won in style by Paddy Byrne, Sophie and Daisy Craik White and Jack Kelly.
HIGH STANDARD
Friday dawned a very wet day for the young stock who were very well-behaved with the noise of the rain battering the roof with over 20 in-hand classes taking place, the highlight of which was the HSI All Ireland Young Stock Final.
Entrants to this competition had qualified throughout the year at various venues and had 11 Irish-bred young ponies in the final.
Rianna Marnane, winner of the novice 153cms show hunter pony class at the IPS Championships Show at Cavan Equestrian (Photo: Sagittarian Photography)
The standard of pony in the ring was very high and it is great to see these potential riding ponies before they go under saddle.
The Champion sash went to Aidan Williamson’s Goldengrove Temptress who also won the overall In-Hand Championship. The highest placed yearling went to John Dineen’s Breeny Beg Ozzie Oak.
The working hunter rings were built by course designer Alan Lynch and Friday saw all the jumping rings in action with the three phase TRI Equestrian-sponsored Tom Robinson Competition taking place.
Riders from 133cms to 158cms took part in dressage, working hunter and show jumping with Jane Hancock’s Corries Jack in the Box and rider Tiggy Hancock taking the 133cms title with Kate Horgan riding her mother Hannah Horgan’s Moon Curragh Ted’s taking the 143cms title.
Tiggy Hancock was again in the rosettes winning the 153cms title with Coppenagh Spring Sparrow who also took the overall Tom Robinson title on the day. All winners were presented with TRI Equestrian presentation rugs.
The Dengie Performance Working Hunter Championship was won by Carla Williamson on her Cradle Stakes Pony Springdale Superstar.
WORKING HUNTERS
The Mountain and Moorland working hunter classes which also took place on Friday were very well supported and took place in another well designed Alan Lynch track with a lot for the ponies to look at and the riders to think about.
The TRI Equestrian Mini WH Championship went to Muskerry Goldfinger ridden by Cian Cusack with the M & M Working Hunter Champion going to Neuaddparc Springsong, ridden by Kirsty Greene.
Ridden Champion honours went to Ballylee Castle Prince, piloted by Sadhbh O’Connor who then went on to win the Overall M & M Championship with her in-hand pony Loughside Emily taking reserve.
The last day of the show, Saturday, dawned dark and cloudy. In the Irish Horse Gateway working hunter rings, the focus was on the open classes.
Plasdaverene Mattie’s Mate with rider Josh Williamson took the Overall Working Hunter Champion, Josh had won the open 133cms class earlier in the day.
The Connemara Working Hunter Championship was won by Danny’s Pride, ridden by Amber Marnane, with Callowfeenish Grey, ridden by Emma Walsh winning the Ridden Connemara Championship.
SUPREME
The TRI Equestrian Supreme Championship saw the British judges back in the ring joined by Mr Peter Molloy with their 10 champions –Working Hunter Plasdaverene Mattie’s Mate (Josh Williamson), Coloured Champion Sweetwall Tamarind (Rianna Mulligan), Mini Champion Springsdale Superstar (Carla Williamson), Part Bred Bantiss Alcazan (Amira Curran), Show Pony Anton Cat Seraph (Rianna Marnane), Show Hunter Carr Side Kate (Sadhbh O’Connor), Starter Stakes Champion Creevlea Midnight Ramble (Chloe Salley), Intermediate Champion Parkdene Private Affair (Chloe Lacey), Connemara Champion Danny’s Pride (Amber Marnane), and In Hand Champion Goldengrove Temptress (Aidan Williamson).
All ponies were given a chance to do an individual show before the judges put up their scores, with all spectators quickly totting up the results in their heads.
The judges having made their decision pulled forward the Working Hunter Champion Plasdaverene Mattie’s Mate, a 16-year-old gelding by Felinmore Playmate, ridden by Josh Williamson.
The Reserve Supreme was the Show Hunter Champion Carr Side Kate, ridden by Sadhbh O’Connor by Bazaars Chief out of Tweeney. Josh went on to ride a powerful three laps of honour at a super gallop.
A great end to another IPS championship show with the best of Irish-bred Connemaras, show pony, youngstock and working hunter ponies on display which gives great faith in the future of the Irish Pony and the Irish Pony Society.