THE IPS showing season started in beautiful weather at Clonshire EC, Adare, Co Limerick, last Sunday and there was an abundance of quality with some of the Irish Pony Society’s top ponies getting their first outing of the season.

Judges Simon Beirne and Mary Moore got proceedings underway in the working hunter ring with the mini working hunter championship going to Wexord’s Ciara O’Connor aboard her RDS winner Linksbury Goldilocks.

Clare’s Annie Twomey progressing from novice ranks to take the working hunter championship with Crecora Angel with Anna Bannon standing reserve on Annadale Miss Siagon.

Sharon Doherty Walsh was judging the ridden classes in the indoor arena where Sean McKenna’s Apache Pinto gave local success in the intermediate section for the owner’s son Shane.

Marian Judge made the journey from Co Sligo worthwhile with the mannerly coloured mare Waterglades Gemini winning the show hunter championship under Megan Devaney with Lacknock Shadow standing reserve for Jane Kingston. Jessica Murphy claimed reserve spot in the starter stakes championship behind Carol Ruttle with Bronheulog Sunny Boy while brother Nathan topped a great day for the Ruttles collecting his first red rosette in the mountain and moorland lead rein class.

The mountain and moorland championship went to Michaela Styne Keating’s Wian William with Katie Marks and Cumafort Scopie Spartacus taking reserve. Megan O’Sullivan made a successful comeback to the ring with Barkway Clementine taking the show pony championship ahead of Saibh Norris aboard Blennerville McKenzie. Tipperary’s Katie Wyse collected the mini championship with her Cavan Supreme winner All That Jazz with Meg Twomey and Uppacotte Xotica taking the blue sash while the led championship was won by Cork’s Martin O’Sullivan with the handsome chesnut stallion Hilin Renior.

The IPS Limerick/Clare two-day summer show will be held at Limerick racecourse on June 13th and 14th next.