THE pony action at Balmoral Show is broken into two days, Connemaras taking centre stage on Thursday with Saturday being devoted to riding ponies, show hunters and workers.

North Down Marquees once again sponsored the Connemara section whose first champion was the 11-year-old Cashelbay Prince gelding Cregana Dandini. The grey had earlier landed the six-year-old and upwards class for absent owner/breeder Marjorie Hardiman whose daughter Jane (17) was winning at the venue for the first time.

As the rest of the family were at Balmoral, Marjorie had to stay at home in Co Galway and mind their 15 other horses and ponies. Cregana Dandini will be aimed at the final of the Sports Pony Challenge before hopefully competing at Dublin. The family have retained a three-year-old filly and a yearling filly out of the Balmoral champion’s dam, Prospect Suzy (by Tulira Robuck).

Sarah Brashaw, who works at Craigantlet House Stables, stood reserve with Andrew Bryan’s four-year-old I Love You Melody mare Donaghmore Melody Song who is heading to the Royal Highland Show. Among those ringside were members of the Horgan family who bred the grey out of the Coosheen Stormboy mare, Ballacurra Mary Ann.

The new class for riders aged between 10 and 16 was won by Jasper Kelly on his mother Lucy’s Knockbridge Just Jimmy. The seven-year-old bay Corderry Tom gelding is another being targeted at the final of the Sports Pony Challenge.

Westmeath exhibitor P.J. Watson won the in-hand mare class for the Henderson & Graham trophy with his Henrietta Knight-bred 10-year-old Castle Comet grey, Lockinge Petunia.

In the later Connemara working hunter championship, Field and Cregana Dandini stood reserve and finished second in their riders over 16 class to Killinchy’s Emily McGowan and her six-year-old Templebready Fear Bui gelding Tullaree Fear Bui.

The class for riders under 16 was won by Gemma Murphy’s eight-year-old Westside Mirah gelding Sillogue Sergi while the experienced Alicia Devlin-Byrne, who was also competing in the show’s Irish Draught section, claimed the Clifden High Performance qualifier with Michael and Theresa Clarke’s 11-year-old Grey Smoke.

ON Saturday, Margaret Miller’s 10-year-old Holyoake Czar gelding, Goldengrove Sunrise, was partnered to victory in the show hunter ponies’ championship by the owner’s granddaughter, Chloe Salley. The reserve, Alan Mulligan’s Devonhayes Marble, also finished second to the champion in their 133cms class.

Although he won his lead rein class, Denver Logan’s Rhydygrug Peter Pan failed to repeat his success in the riding pony championship, the tricolour sash going to the 128cms class winner, John Kelly’s 14-year-old Lechlade Quince gelding Chagford Leon, with the reserve being the first ridden winner, Fiona Goor’s 15-year-old Rotherwood Statesman gelding, Barkway State Affair.

The Ryan family from Oldtown in north Co Dublin had a good Balmoral as Kieran’s lightweight five-year-old gelding, Impersonator, was the show’s reserve supreme ridden hunter under Claire Gilna, while his 13-year-old Currachmore Cashel gelding, Loughwell Bobby, was champion pony working hunter in the hands of his son James.

On the advice of Anne Stanley, the champion, and winner of the 143cms class, was purchased by Ryan’s wife Mairead from the late April Merveldt as an eight-year-old and has recorded many successes in the interim. James and the pony are heading to the Royal Highland in search of a Horse of The Year Show qualifying ticket.

In a good result for the boys, James’s good friend Josh Williamson stood reserve on the 133cms class winner, the 17-year-old Felinmore Playmate gelding Plasdavrene Matty’s Mate.