THERE was huge excitement among supporters of the breed when Joe Burke showed Banks Timber to win the supreme in-hand championship at Cavan Equestrian Centre last Saturday night as the grey stallion thus became the first Connemara to qualify at
the Northern Ireland Festival for the Horse of the Year Show Cuddy in-hand championship.

“This is a dream come true,” said Burke whose family runs the Cloonisle Stud outside Castlegar, Co Galway. “This pony, and others we have bred, has been to HOYS before but it will my first time to compete in the ring.