Emer Bermingham

IRISH Pony Society members travelled to Wexford Equestrian to take part in the IPS Dengie Spring Spectacular where, after a long day of judging, Amber Marnane and Sharlen Gone With The Wind that were awarded the supreme championship by judge Mary Carter. Standing reserve were Ciara O’Connor and Linksbury Goldilocks.

Sharlen Gone With The Wind had impressed earlier in the day when he claimed the open 138cms show pony class and the champion show pony sash under Tipperary native Amber Marnane. Also impressing was Ciara O’Connor, who was on her first official outing off the lead rein with Linksbury Goldilocks and gathered up a collection of ribbons. They first took the honours in the show hunter first year first ridden, before being crowned the mini show hunter champion.

Winner of the show hunter lead rein and standing reserve to O’Connor was Nicola Miller’s Sarum Rio, ridden by Chloe Sally. O’Connor and Linksbury Goldilocks added to their prizes when they won the mini working hunter pony championships. Claiming the reserve championship in this category was the working hunter pony lead rein winner, Conor Cusack riding Muskerry Goldfinger

The show hunter champion was awarded to the novice show hunter winner, Victoria Burns and Newoak Onyx, with the reserve championship being awarded to the open 153cms show hunter winner, Eimear Furlong and Thistletown Olympia.

The leading starter stakes pony for 2015, Parcglas Splendid Rainbow got his season off to a strong start as he won the starter stakes championship under Emma Mackey’s command. The open working starter stakes winner, Noble Toureen Lass, stood reserve for Tiggy Hancock. Mackey and Splendid Rainbow also took the champion coloured title, with Stephanie Moore and Mr Angus being reserve.

Mackey went on to win the part-bred championship and reserve show pony championship with her new pony Mountpleasant Rosebud. Saoirse O’Neill and Barkway Chorister stood reserve part-bred.

It was a good outing for the Mackey family as Hannah Mackey, moving off the lead rein, claimed the red rosette with Brynoffa Jonquil in the show pony first ridden and later the show pony first year first ridden. Campaigned by sister Emma last year, Brynoffa Jonquil was the IPS mini show pony of 2015. Now under Hannah’s command, the mare was crowned the mini show pony champions, with Amelia O’Halloran and Fielden Chrys-O-Lite standing reserve.

The open working hunter championship was awarded to the open 153cms working hunter pony winner, Mary Flynn’s Master Columbus ridden by Alix Cuneen, while Noble Toureen Lass, was awarded the reserve ticket for the second time.

The novice 143cms working hunter pony winner Anna Byrne and Oilean Arran Cailin won the novice working hunter championship, while the novice 153cms winner Olivia McGeary took reserve with Borneo Roxy Chic.

The open 158cms working hunter pony winner, Rosie FitzGerald’s Brandon Nairobi ridden by Eimear Furlong, claimed the intermediate championship, with the novice 158cms working hunter pony winner, Walter Ronan and Lizzie standing reserve.

Shauna Furlong had much to celebrate as Danny’s Pride stood both ridden and working mountain and moorland champion. Standing reserve ridden mountain and moorland was Megan Connell and Meelick Island, with Jane Handcock’s Longthwaite Red Robin reserve in the mountain and moorland working hunter pony section.

The impressive Connemara champion was Lon Mac Liomhtha, ridden by owner Avril Hobson, with Danny’s Pride taking reserve.

Claiming the mountain and moorland mini championship was the winner of the first ridden, Jordan Murphy and Waxwing Pimms, while Oscar O’Connor and Birtley Rainbow Quest stood reserve.