Michael Duffy & Sillogue Darkie, Louth CountyIt has been an exciting time for Michael Duffy and the Connemara gelding Sillogue Darkie recently, with the pair having had three major Grand Prix victories over the period of one week, namely at the Cavan and Barnadown Shows. Abroad at the beginning of June at the famous European venue of Wierden, Holland as part of the Irish team in the Nations Cup they were also amongst the medals finising in joint second position with the Swedish team.For his exploits on the Irish showjumping circuit in May, Michael was recognised in being the receipient of the SJI Showjumper of the Month the first ever pony rider to receive it.Sillogue Darkie and Michael Duffy at Clifden show 09[/caption]
Later in July ’09 the duo will travel to Moorsele, Belgium as part of the Irish team to compete at the 2009 European Championships and then back to Dublin for the Royal Dublin Horse Show.
@@@@@@@@ Yet more LATE NOVEMBER NEWS ON THE BRILLIANT JUMPING CAREER OF SILLOGUE DARKIE. @@@@@@@@@
After winning a Silver medal for Ireland during the summer, Belgium again provided the venue for further success for the famous pedigree Connemara Sillogue Darkie. With Michael Duffy aboard the pair jumped a double clear at the prestigious Neeroeteren arena in one of Europe’s premier Pony Grand Prix’s, only to be pushed into 2nd place by less than a second by fellow Silver team medalist Emma O’Dwyer on Kalim De Montlieu.
Jan 2010 Update Connemara Pony of the Decade
Sillogue Darkie has topped the poll run by Ashbrook Stud with 38% of the votes cast, giving him a lead on the French Connemara Dexter Leam Pondi who clocked up 34% of the votes of 1,200 voters: Beginning on New Year’s Day punters were given of the choice of about 14 well known Connemara ponies and asked to nominate a facourite. Darkie, a 14yr. old gelding by Ard Talisman, has indeed clocked up an enormous number of record winning rounds in the showjumping world. And he has achieved all of this with a succession of 5 young riders during the past number of years, with Galway’s Michael Duffy, son of Show jumper Paul the current rider. A Winner Allright .
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