THE Annual Midlands Connemara Pony Show was held in Mullingar Equestrian centre on July 27th and proved a great success with increased entries and participation from all corners of Ireland. The in-hand section showed a significant increase in entries on all of the previous shows to date, helping to make the event a great spectacle for everyone to enjoy.

The flagship All-Ireland Broodmare Championship was the real highlight of the day. Some 19 fabulous broodmares adorned the showring with Caste Charm, owned by Henry O’Toole and shown by his son Michael, eventually being crowned the overall Champion.

Sinead McGrath from the ‘Lucky’ Connemara Pony Stud in Claregalway took home the Supreme Championship with her outstanding mare Lucky Ransom. Sadly, the Midlands Connemara Pony Show President George Ledwith, who always presented the Supreme Cup, has passed away since the last show, however his son John continued the tradition in presenting the coveted George and Mary Ledwith Cup for the Supreme Champion. Standing reserve was Paddy Kearns with his loyal mare Loughmore Suzy.

The youngstock in the junior classes were of a very high standard and included many Clifden hopefuls. One class that attracted great attention was the Ruth Rogers three-year-old filly championship, in memory of the former journalist and great supporter of the show. Patrick Curran took the honours with Glencarrig Honeysuckle and then proceeded to be crowned junior champion. Kieran McGrath from Claregalway took reserve champion with his two-year-old filly Hazelrock Starlight.

The foal classes displayed high quality foals, proving that the future of the breed is in safe hands. Marie Maloney from Banagher won the overall foal championship with her filly foal Hillcrest Rihanna by Rosedale Frankie. Paddy Kearns’s Brocklodge Rio won the colt foal class.

The committee expressed their sincere thanks to in-hand judges Emer McNamara from Clifden and Danny Molly from Moate who, despite the very high standard and large numbers, both judged professionally throughout the long day.

There was a wide range of well-supported performance classes including flat ridden, working hunter, the DAFM Sarah Miller future performance pony, DAFM loose lunging and also part-bred classes. Ahead of a trip to the Dublin Horse Show, Sadhbh O’Connor’s Teach Mor Sparrow was the DAFM ridden champion

The performance working hunter championship went to Patricia Dalton’s stallion Village Sparrow, superbly ridden by Justine O’Hara.

The late Sarah Miller would have been proud to see record entries in the DAFM/Sarah Miller Future performance pony. The overall winning rosette went to Peter Lawlor’s I Love You Jazz, by I Love you Melody.

The DAFM-supported loose lunging for three-year-old ponies was also a Clifden qualifier and the overall honours went to Shauna O’Malley’s Beechmount Apollo, by Slackport Prince.

The organisers commented: “All five performance rings ran very smoothly throughout the day and full credit to all our judges. As always, Robert Fagan and his team at Mullingar Equestrian provided a setting for the show that is second to none.

“The show proved a very successful day with the common bond of the Connemara pony bringing everyone together. The Group extend a sincere gratitude to everyone who made the day such a great success including judges, stewards and exhibitors. We look forward to the next event on in the Well, Moate, Co Westmeath for a ‘Fillys Day Out’ in September.”