MURKY weather greeted competitors, judges and stewards for the Irish Pony Society Spring Show held at Raheen Na Gun last Saturday. This did not dampen the spirits with plenty of buzz around the grounds due to the addition of Royal International Horse Show qualifiers for both working hunter ponies and ridden coloured classes.

Ger O’Brien and his team at Raheen Na Gun efficiently built tracks and set up two very inviting courses for the riders.

With over 60 classes, there was lots to entertain spectators. Some of the largest classes of the day were the Connemara and M & M classes. Rachel Flynn’s Firey Dipolmat, ridden by Aoife Flynn, won the Connemara Working Hunter Championship with the Connemara Ridden Championship being presented to Emily Widger’s Skellorn Prairie Starlight, ridden by Emma Mackey.

There was great excitement in ring 2 where there were two spots available for the Royal International Horse Show in the BSPA coloured ridden section.

Clive Johnston picked Tara Kelly’s Dunbeggan Dreamer, ridden by her daughter Penny, in the pony class and Sara-Jane Weissenbach’s delightful mare Freya’s Choice won the horse section and also stood BSPA champion with Dunbeggan Dreamer taking reserve.

Minis prove mighty

The mini ponies and riders put on a beautiful display of riding with the Mini Show Pony Championship won by Rachel Lane’s Barkway State Affair, ridden by Amber Lane, with Emily Widger’s Thistledown Gold Medal, ridden by Joe Mackey, taking the Mini Show Hunter Championship.

Encouragingly, there were lots of entries in the youngstock classes with Sharon O’Brien’s Bridie taking the In-Hand Championship.

Aoibhinn Ruanne won the Intermediate Championship riding Helena Hennessy Ruane’s Ballarin Bada Bing with Aoife O’Connor’s Imperial High Tide picking up the Show Hunter Championship for the second successive year.

The Working Hunter track took plenty of riding with judges Mary Carter and Brian Lewis commenting on the standard of riding. The Novice Working Hunter Championship was presented to Cheryl Cusack’s Killone Dasher, ridden by Conor Cusack, with the Open Working Hunter Championship won by Melanie Marnane’s Danny’s Pride, ridden by Emily Marnane.

After a course change in ring 3, it was time for the much anticipated BSPS Royal International Horse Show Working Hunter Qualifiers.

Judges Paula McCarthy and Amanda Torrens were tasked with judging the highly competitive classes. With the following picking up their qualification for Hickstead (July 26th-31st), Evie Kennedy riding Maihem First Edition winning the Nursery Stakes, Ned Kelly managed to get two qualification spots one on Tinnecarrig Milo in the 133cm and the second in the 143cm section with Rowdown Archer, both owned by his proud mother Lucy Kelly. The 153cm qualifying spot went to Mairead Ryan’s Indian Joe, ridden by her son James, and Lily Nadir picked up the final qualifier by winning the 158cm section on Country Strong, they also stood R.I.H.S WH Champion with Indian Joe Reserve.

Supreme Championship

With over 350 entries throughout the day, the long awaited Supreme Championship took place with 14 champions in the ring.

The judges eventually chose their Supreme Champion to be Helena Hennessy Ruane’s Ballarin Bada Bing, ridden by Aoibhinn Ruane, who had won the Intermediate Championship earlier.

Aoife O’Connor’s Imperial Tide, ridden by Sadhbh O’Connor, who had earlier won the Show Hunter Championship was presented with the Reserve title.

The IPS thanked all who supported the show and now look forward to two great days at the Championship Show which takes place on August 3rd and 4th next.