Clocks change

A REMINDER to everyone that the clocks go back one hour on Saturday night/Sunday morning.

Pony Clubs

MANY thanks to all the pony clubs who have sent back their forms for The Irish Field Directory 2016. We would ask any clubs who have not yet done so to please return them by post or email to margaretoconnor@theirishfield.ie as we would like to include as many as possible. You can contact Margaret at 01-4051178.

Owners pony charity show

THE annual Owners Pony and Young Riders Charity Show started yesterday and continues today (Saturday) and Sunday at Millstreet’s Green Glens arena. This is the 29th annual show which has raised hundreds of thousands of euros for worthy charities over the years.

Now Europe’s largest pony show, the event has been hosted free of charge for the last 17 years in Millstreet by kind permission of the Duggan family.

Clifden sales

CLIFDEN will be buzzing this weekend for its world famous three-day sale of Connemara Ponies which starts today (Saturday) and continues until Monday. Today Lots 1 to 286 will go through the ring with Sunday selling Lots 300-563 and Monday will see Lots 600-765 go under the hammer.

The extensive catalogue is online at www.connemaraponysales.com

Oireachtas

meetings progress

THE Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine will conduct an examination of the €500m greyhound industry in Ireland. The Committee met with Tom Hayes TD, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and his officials as well as representatives from the Irish Greyhound Board (IGB) and the Irish Greyhound Owners and Breeders Federation (IGOBF). Over 10,000 people are directly and indirectly employed in the industry.

The Joint Committee also launched their report entitled “Designation of lands as Special Protection Areas for the conservation of breeding Hen Harriers”. This report examines the impact of Special Protection Area’s (SPA’s) in the context of conservation but also the needs of the land owner.

Loss of Ronnie Massarella

BRITISH showjumping lost one of its most renowned figures in the sport with the death of Ronnie Massarella at the age of 92 on Sunday, October 18th last.

Massarella was appointed OBE in 1982 for his services to British Showjumping and was widely acknowledged as one of the greatest ambassadors the sport has ever known. He was British Showjumping’s honorary vice-president, team manager and chef d’equipe of the senior UK show jumping teams for three decades.

During that time, he led teams to numerous international honours including a silver medal at both the Rotterdam Compensatory Olympic Games in 1980 and the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984.

Massarella was with the team when they won team gold at the World Championships in 1979 as well as at the European Championships in 1985. He also guided Britain to team silver in 1983 European Championships.

Retiring from his role in December 2000, Ronnie was awarded the British Showjumping Lifetime Award in 2001.