COMPETITORS from all around the country descended on the Knockagh View Equestrian Centre last Saturday for the Irish Pony Society Northern Area’s biggest Spring Show to date.

The judging duties in inclement weather conditions were undertaken by Gillian Creighton, Mary Moore and, in Ring Three, Colin Doyle whose in-hand supreme champion was Elaine Sherrard’s two-year-old home-bred show hunter pony, Parkhill Garnacho (Centurion Bolero - Parkhill Araminta, by Mynach Arion).

The dark bay gelding, who was making his seasonal debut, was named after the former Manchester United player Alejandro Garnacho by soccer-mad Sherrard, who commented of her supreme champion: “I think he’s very special and will end up in England as a top 13hh show hunter pony. He was unbeaten when shown last season.”

The reserve supreme spot was filled by John McCormick’s winner of the four-year-old and upwards show pony class, the 2022 bay gelding Brookllan Beau’s Delight.

Other champions in Ring Three were the Sophia Martin-ridden 19-year-old gelding Magical Merlin (mini ridden); the Amelia Logan-partnered Fielden Real McCoy (show pony), a 13-year-old piebald gelding by Ninfield Eureka; the Johnny Massey-ridden 18-year-old Moortown Country Man gelding Coxwood Fabian Stedman (ridden mini Mountain and Moorland); and Mia McKay (young handlers).

Logan and Fielden Real McCoy were also Mary Moore’s winners of the coloured pony class in Ring Two, where they eventually ended up claiming the ridden supreme title.

Championship sashes were also presented to the Grace Morton-ridden Irish Sport Horse gelding Kinnego Glencorran Archie (Intermediate), a grey seven-year-old by Glencorran Star; to the Myia Latto-partnered Newfielden Eureka (show pony), an eight-year-old black gelding by Ninfield Eureka; the Mia McKay-partnered Skellorn Full Of Joy (starter stakes), a five-year-old grey gelding by Robe Champ; to the Jocelyn Hutchinson-ridden six-year-old bay Hebwyn Little King (Heritage); and to the Sarah Eccles-partnered 15-year-old Langfield Plantation gelding Beltoy Panteal (newcomers).

The show’s mini supreme champion, the Rosita Dunne-ridden Fontmell Jack Sparrow, an 11-year-old British-bred gelding by Carrwood Zeus, was first crowned the performance champion in Ring One by Gillian Creighton.

Others who left that ring as working hunter champions were the Amelia Logan-ridden eight-year-old appaloosa gelding Garnagree Golden Bravado (mini); and the Sarah McPolin-partnered Connemara gelding Coolfinn Vivendi, who won both the novice and open titles and was then crowned supreme working hunter champion. The 10-year-old ISH mare by Ars Vivendi, who has a lot of eventing experience behind her, was bred in Co Laois by Eamonn Kenny out of the Russel mare Levallys Girl.