Ridden Classes and some In-Hand For Friday Working Hunter and Puissance Click Here
The impressive number of people entering the Clifden show-grounds on the traditional third Thursday of August this year was also reflected in the increased number of Connemara ponies competing in both Rings One and Two.
The In-Hand classes from both Rings totalled 21 and there were 10 Ridden Classes, from Lead Rein up to Ridden Stallion and Side-saddle. Ridden Classes in particular are on the increase and up to 16 or 18 rider-pony combinations filled Ring 2 in some Classes. It was a display to behold and admire. This Blog has attempted to capture some of Clifden atmosphere and the activity on this very busy day which did not end until about 8p.m (having started at 8.30 a.m !); In the main it was a bright and sunny day marred only by a long spell of heavy rain around noon which scattered spectators while the committed watchers and of course the competitors in both Rings stood their ground. Some photos have been sorted and some prizewinners have been identified and used for your information. I hope you enjoy viewing. All Results can be seen at www.cpbs.ie
Starting with the Ridden Classes; The Lead Reiners who impressed Judges Maura McKenna and Robin Avery the most were Lara Field on Venus, led by her Dad Mark and Shiofra Daly on Robe Dulla with her Dad Declan Daly in attendance. Both of these ponies are seasoned campaigners with temperaments well suited to their young riders’ abilities.
Class B. Two more youngsters were first and second in line in the Under 14yrs. Ridden Class. These were Laura Higgins on Carn Verdon Boy and Ben Crawford on Ardfry Jade.
Ardfry Jade had a busy family morning as she featured again, at the top of the line this time in Class C for ponies 4-6 years, ridden by Ben’s big sister Pataire, while Silver Earl ridden by Lisa Hockley took the Blue Ribbon.
Class D for ponies 6-8 years with 18 competitors was possibly the largest class of the day Jackie Hockley’s Bally G. Comet won the Red Rosette while Heather Murray Good was next in line with Carrowkeel Jack and we shall hear more of Carrowkeel Jack before the day is out.
Class E for riders between 10 and 16 years went to Lucy Glynn with Claremount Lad followed into 2nd place by David Connolly and Rosswood Little Lady.
The Under 21 winner in class F was Carrowkeel Jack and Hollyhock Smurog with Dearbhaile Dempsey took Blue.
Laura McWeeney’s Roo Bella with rider Sylvia Henry got the judges nod in the Over 21 riders Class G with Grace Murphy’s Thiergartenhofs Larissa called in to collect the Blue rosette.
Please correct me if you have spotted errors in that list.
Now a pause, it’s after tea-time and as you might say “are we there yet” there were just two more Classes to go, the Ridden Stallion and Side-saddle Classes, H and I. and of course the Ridden Championship for which you may have spotted a clue already!
Cashelbay Comet with Philippa Scott on board was the winner of the Stallion Class, with Callowfeenish Grey and Rebecca O’Connell in the Blue Ribbon slot. I do not have a photo of the Side-saddle winner (as Ring One was calling) which was Bertraghboy Heaven and rider Alicia Devlin Byrne. Ridden Champion 2014 was Carrowkeel Jack and Reserve Ridden champion was Claremount Lad.
Cogratulation to all participants, the standard of riding has gone up and up in recent years, and you all deserve Red ribbons for the hard work in getting these ponies ready for Clifden. Go raibh maith agaibh go leir !
The Gallery will have more pictures
In – Hand Classes
An extraordinary number of Connemara ponies went through Ring One on the Thursday of Clifden Show week with more than 20 ponies in some of the Mare classes and close to 30 in the yearling Fillies. Unfortunately Niamh’s Weblog – trying to cover two rings simultaneously – did not get as many results and pictures as would have been desirable so only a small number of pics. are available for this resumé. Judges Padraig Hynes with Sheila Ramsey – who breeds Connemaras in New Zealand – had an unenviable task before them as so many lovely ponies entered the Ring for Class after well-filled Class. The Yearling Colt winner was Gabriel Murphy’s Lolong Bobson Bobby (Dungimmon Knight X Cillbhrid Jenny), shown by Triona Murphy. Seamus Keady’s 2 year old Mare left Clifden with a Red Rosette. She is Shanna Saoirse (Too Much Melody X Skousboe Shamrock). In the pic. she follows Paul Madden’s 2year old Colt winner Gloves Bomber (Aran Brown Bomber X Rehins Beauty)
The Three Year old Stallion Class with five entries was the smallest group of the day and Michael O’Toole’s Castle Diceman who descends from a line of prolific showring winners (Glencarraig Knight X Village Linnet) had the conformation and the breeding which most impressed the Judges. and this pony claimed the Junior Championship ahead of Cáilin Conneely’s winner of the Yearling Filly Class Letterdyfe Siofra (Castleside Carraig X Glencarrig Rose Marie). From a highly competitive Class of 14 mature Stallions 7 years old and over Eamon Burke’s Drumbad Fletcher Moss (Fredericksminde Hazy Match X Robe Grey Abbey) took the 1st prize.
Doonhill Misty Dawn (Currachmore Cashel X April Dawn Lady) was owner/breeder Damian Gorhams winner of the Three Year old Mare Class. Another very competitive Class, that for 4 and 5 yr old Mares went to Malachy Gotham’s Kingstown Diana (Linsfort Barney X Kingstown Dana) whose dam was a Clifden Supreme six years ago. In the 6-7 year old Mare Class the winner was a brood mare who has dominated her Class in show-rings throughout Ireland since she won all before her on her first outing ever at Balmoral Show last May. She is Carrowkeel Star (Currachmore Cashel X Lishín Star) and was bred and produced by her Mayo owners Fiona and Tomás Grimes. Pic 6 And to top it all her dam Lishín Star Glencarrig Prince X Dunlewey Lishín Liath) later won the Red rosette in the Class for Mare 10 to 15 Years. and led her 2 daughters to take Reserve in the Progeny Class. The Progeny Class winner was the Supreme champion of the Show, and had earlier won the 4-6 year old Stallion Class. This premier accolade of Clifden Show 2014 went to Ciarán Curran’s ‘bred in the purple’ Glencarrig Knight (Janus X Coosheen Breeze) All photos © Niamh’s Weblog.
