(Click on image to enlarge) Cork Summer Show, a traditional Agricultural Show, was run on Saturday and Sunday 18/19, June in the spacious Curraheen showgrounds.
On the Saturday many other events apart from the Pony Showing Classes, which included Connemara and Welsh ponies, Show Ponies and Working and Show Hunter Classes, kept the place buzzing.
There was of course the Funfair, the Cattle and Poultry Classes, Inter- Schools Showjumping, Mounted Games, Vintage Displays, Trade Stands, an International Farriers Competition, with four hot-shoeing competitions, all timed, Live Music and a Dog Show.
There were six Competition Rings for Ponies and the Connemara Ridden and Working Hunter sections were well supported by members of the Southern Connemara Pony Group. Some Classes had the additional attraction of being championship qualifiers for later in the national Showing season. This Blog unfortunately missed some of the early In-Hand Classes, of which there were five. Keeping track of the results in the following ten performance classes was confusing at times for Niamh’s weblog; {so if you spot errors here please let me know in the comments box}. Fortunately the rain held off until later in the afternoon, but unfortunately it did coinside with the late-starting Working Hunter Ring and also the Championship highlights.
In Hand Classes. Young Tom Hayden was an early winner when he was awarded the Connemara Young Handlers’ prize with his mother’s mare, Gallows Heather Dew by Currachmore Cashel, and in a later class he qualified for the CCPA Championship to be held in Duffys Equestrian, Claregalway on 16 Aug. Linda O Donovan with her home-bred young colt, Caher Ross Duke (Glencarrig Knight X Moorland Snow Queen) took the Youngstock first prize. {A picture would be very welcome}!
The Class for Mares 4 – 6 yr old was won by Carmel Melody’s Nire Valley Beezie {Linsfort Barney X Nire Valley Laurin} and Niamh Melody also led her home-bred mare to victory in the SCPG In-Hand Class.
The colt foal Jacob by Rathcline Argon, bred by Kitty and Liam Cotter was the Red Rosette winner in the Foal Class.
Kitty and Liam Cotter were top of the line again in the Class for Mares 7 years and over with Ardnore Silver Lady {Glencarrig Lexus X Ardnore Seabird,}
This lovely mare, Ardnore SilverLady and her foal Jacob, were the choice of Judge Fr. Christy McCormack to wear the In-Hand Champion’s Sash and carry home the handsome O’Donovan, Cuddy, McCarthy Cup to Enniskeane. Nire Valley Beezie took the Reserve In-Hand Championship Sash.
Jackie Keohane, husband Padraig and son David came from Clonakilty with Jackie’s young mare Tynash Alanna to show her for the first time and were enjoying the day out.
Performance Classes
Judge Ruth McGovern started straight away on the five Connemara ridden Classes. By the way, did you ever hear of Tally Ho Choccy Wolly Do Dah? No! Maybe a misprint in the Cork Show Catalogue or there has to be an interesting story in the name of Susan Cleary’s dun gelding, who was one of eight ponies in the Under 16 Riders Ridden Class.
The winner of that Under 16 Class was Finola Craven’s gelding Carranthomas Playboy while Gallows Heather Dew with Tom Hayden took the Blue rosette. Mary Carpenter with Tubbervale Amanda qualified for the CPPA U.16 Ridden Championship. {Very sorry to have no picture, do you?}
The 4yr old Cashelbay Prince gelding, Kilshanny Robert, with his owner/rider Jackie O’ Donoghue, was called into 1st place in the O.16 Ridden Class.
In this quality class with 11 entries, Niamh Melody’s pair of ponies, Nire Valley Beth, ridden by Susan Cleary and Nire Valley Beezie by her owner, were 2nd and 3rd. The Duntally Cup, confined to the best Ridden Pony in the SPCG Members Ridden Class was won by the 5 yr. old Nire Valley Beth piloted by Susan Cleary
In the CPPA O.16 qualifying Class, the 11yr old stallion Plume de Kezeg {by Janus}, was previously successfully competed by Pauline Dahill, but this time it was rider Jo Watkinson who rode him into 1st place. Jo is Plume’s longtime trainer and groom at Duntally stud – and she was riding her charge at her first show in 20 years!
Lucy Tuthill Kingston was placed 2nd in the CPPA O.16 qualifying Class with her 5yr. old gelding Lahaknock Shadow and this rider had also taken a blue rosette in the Young Handlers class
Cork was also a first Show ever for the 8yr old Fotaview Prince. His rider Ilinka Leathwood, originally Austrian but now settled in Tipperary, has broken and schooled this gelding by Glencarrig Prince, only during the past year. She was very pleased when he behaved like a pro. and came 3rd in the O.16 qualifier.
Connemara Working Hunter
In the Working Hunter ring, the day had darkened considerably and rain came slowly splashing down.
Pauline Dahill riding the novice 5yr old Glencairn Holly got off to a good start when she won the Over 16, competition and also later qualified for the Clifden High Performance and the CPPA Championships. Nire Valley Beth jumped to 2nd place in this Class with Susan Cleary.
Plume de Kezeg had another win, the Under 16 Working Hunter, this time with rider Carol Ann.
Also qualifiying for the Clifden High Performance Championship in August were Jacqui Frayne’s Ardnaglas Lad, Joan Dahill with Glencairn Sixpence and Orla Fleming with Rusheen Young Oliver. Jacqui Freyne also qualified Drimcong Michael for the CPPA Championship.
When it was pushing 7 o’clock and time to call it a day, a very wet Judge Tim Hurley finally got to present the Ridden Championship John Sweeny Cup to Pauline Dahill on Glencairn Holly. Reserve Kilshanny Robert with Jackie O’Donoghue.
© Niamh’s Weblog
