(Updated 29/8/19)
IRISH PONY SOCIETY CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW 2019
Following fantastic results achieved at the Europeans and RDS, IPS members travelled to Barnadown to compete at the Championship Show, with over 150 classes and 45 championships there was superb action over the three days. Our visiting Judges from the UK were very complimentary on the quality of both the venue, the course building and animals that came through their rings. The highlight of Thursday was the Tom Robinson Gold Cup, the dressage phase was won by Gina McCann’s Lightwater Shroughen Pride, ridden by Ruby Hughes with Avril Hobson’s Brimstone Bowman, ridden by Sarah Keane taking the Showjumping Award and Ciara Durham’s Jim Delaney, ridden by Pippa Durham winning the Performance Hunter section. The overall Tom Robinson Gold cup was won by Brimstone Bowman. Throughout the three days of competition, Sarah also won the M&M Working Hunter Championship with her Mother’s Lon Mac Líomhtha and the Reserve Jim Lilley Championship also with Bowman.
Friday saw super numbers in the mini classes with the Mini Working Hunter Champion won by Aine Brennan’s Proclins Prince Charming, ridden by Aoife Brennan. Alan Mulligan’s Moscombe Cheeky Boy, ridden by Julia Mulligan won both Open Show Pony and Part Bred Championships and went on to win Overall Show Pony Champion. Over in the Derby Ring, Ciara Durham’s Jim Delaney won the overall Working Hunter Championship with Janet Williamson’s Plasdavrene Matty’s Mate, ridden by Carla Williamson, hot from her Dublin win, taking the Overall Starter Stakes Championship, both ponies winning their tickets into the Supreme. Carla had won the Working Hunter Starter Stakes Championship earlier in the day with Lara Field on Creganna Dancer taking Reserve. Lara and Dancer made a great team throughout the competition taking 3 Reserve Championships in the Working Starter Stakes, Performance Working Hunter and the Novice Working Hunter. The Novice Working Hunter Championship was won by Anne Stanley’s Donode Mable Molly, ridden by James Ryan. James was then presented with his own Grandfather’s Perpertual Trophy named the Jimmy Curran Trophy. James also won the Intermediate Working Hunter Championship on Kieran Ryan’s Ardfinnan.
Saturday held the HSI Youngstock Final which saw competitors with Irish Bred 1, 2 and 3 year old ponies that had qualified at shows throughout the Summer. The well-deserved winner was Ann Grimes’s Blennerville Rua, a 3-year-old filly by Paulank Easy Peasy out of Blennerville Scarlett. Rua had also taken Reserve Champion in the Show Hunter Youngstock Class, which was won by Peter Byrne’s Wyndham Dun To-a-T. There were lots of Youngstock Champions throughout the day with M J Galvin’s Malbay Georgie Boy taking Show Pony Young Stock Champion and Reserve Part Bred Youngstock with Shane Fennell’s Parcglass Appollo taking Champion. The Overall Youngstock Champion was won by Lady Nesta FitzGerald’s Brandon Brief Encounter, which had won the Broodmare Championship earlier in the day.
The IPS added an Open Working Hunter qualifying competition to the schedule this year, named the Jim Lilley Series in memory of Mr Jim Lilley, deceased, who had given many years of service to the IPS and esteemed President. Qualifiers had been run throughout the season which led to an exciting display of jumping at the final. Johnny Kyle had built a technical track which combined traditional rustic knockables with the challenges of natural obstacles. It takes a special partnership to become the Jim Lilley Series Champion and the deserving winner was Jack Murphy riding Valerie O’Reilly’s Tynan Earl Grey who had earlier won the 143cms class. Jack was presented with a perpetual Cup by Mrs Pearl Lilley who, accompanied by her daughter Amanda, had watched the competitions all day.
The day culminated in the Supreme Championship which is quite a spectacle with Judges sitting and young IPS members still in their jodhpurs holding up the results behind them as the audience quickly tallies each score. Each Champion passed before the Judges putting on display to show their pony’s potential with Starter Stakes Champion Plasdavrene’s Matty’s Mate ridden by Carla Williamson, Show Pony Champion Moscombe Cheeky Boy ridden by Julia Mulligan, Show Hunter Champion Darton’s Valentine ridden by Amber Marnane, In Hand Champion Nesta Fitzgerald’s Brandon Brief Encounter, M & M Champion Waitwith Little Jolie ridden by Max Laird, Working Hunter Champion Jim Delaney ridden by Pippa Durham and Connemara Champion Knockbridge Just Jimmy ridden by Jasper Kelly.
The audience quickly realised that Brandon Brief Encounter, Darton’s Valentine and Waitwith Little Jolie tied on equality of points. After much collaboration, the Judges called the delighted Supreme Champion as Casilda Laird’s Waithwith Little Jolie, a 7-yr-old mare by Tamesvalley Sahara out of Waitwith Janie. Max, led by Gary Laird had won the M & M Lead Rein and Championship earlier in the day. Darton’s Valentine, ridden by Amber Marnane and owned by Louise Lyons, took the Reserve Supreme.
Full Results Championship Show
Irish Field Results for the Championship Show 2019
Mini Ponies out in force at the IPS Spring Show
Beautiful sunshine with a chill in the air greeted riders for the Irish Pony Society Spring Show, which was held in Raheen Na Gun on Saturday 4th May. Ger O’Brien and his team at Raheen Na Gun efficiently built tracks and set up two very inviting courses for the riders and were on hand all day. With over 60 classes to enter there was lots to entertain the spectators. The largest classes of the day were in the mini classes with lots of small beautifully turned out ponies and riders walking away with colourful rosettes. Chloe Salley, riding Mrs Margaret Miller’s Goldengrove Sunshine, was both Show Hunter Champion and Part-Bred Champion. Mr James Kelly’s Rookery Haribo, ridden by Jack Kelly, also had a great day, winning the Mini Show Hunter and the M&M Ridden Championship. The working hunter rings, although quieter, had some great displays of jumping with Mrs Ciara Durham’s homebred pony, Jim Delaney, winning Working Hunter Champion ridden by Pippa Durham, with the M&M Working Hunter Championship won by Mrs Margaret Nelson’s Benny Liath, ridden by Isabelle Nally. The Performance Championship was won by the super little pony, Inspector Bob, who has taught many a rider to negotiate jumps safely, owned by Mrs Sara Kavanagh and ridden by her daughter, Ellie. The delighted winner of the day was Charlotte Kelly who won the overall Supreme Championship with Mrs Tara Hudson’s Chagford Leon. Charlotte had won the Show Pony Championship earlier in the day and was the Judge’s pick in the Supreme. Carla Williamson took the Reserve Supreme with Mrs Janet Williamson’s pony, Plasdavrene Matty’s Mate. Carla had won the Starter Stakes Championship after a lovely win the Open Working Starter Stakes competition.
The IPS would like to thank all who supported the show and all the new members who have joined this year and all its loyal members that travel the country supporting shows and look forward to a great season ahead.
Results from Irish Pony Society Spring Show 2019 can be viewed HERE.
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Report from Introduction to IPS Gold Cup at Wexford Equestrian on Sunday 2nd October
The IPS South Leinster/Waterford Area decided to take a new incentive by holding a two or three phase competition for all ages at Wexford Equestrian on Sunday 2nd October. This was a totally new concept for the area and we were delighted with the overall results. Riders of all ages from four to twenty went home happy and the committee were so encouraged by the response that further similar days will be held next spring. There were several riders who had never taken part in IPS events before and, hopefully, this will encourage them to continue next season. The results were awarded on a points system and in the lead rein class, Eryn O’Reilly on Wilson was a convincing winner overall from Georgia de Bromhead, with Ava Doyle taking both first and second places in the First Ridden overall result with Missy and the veteran Mean Bean. The Starter Stakes competition was hotly contested over all 3 phases and, here, Tiggy Hancock on Longthwaite Red Robin finished 2 points ahead of Taylor Peare on Lady Dawn Windsor to win the overall rosette. In the 133cms class, Tiggy came out on top on Noble Toreen Lass with Lottie Ross taking the 2nd place on Penny’s Wonder. The 143cms section was another close finish, with Emma Osborne on Lisrua Heidi just gaining the lead from Sadhbh Stassin on Clonross Giselle. The Connemara class went to Shauna Furlong on Danny’s Pride with Lauren Reck coming second with Bobby’s Misty Magic. The 153cms class went to Sadhbh Stassin with Max, 2nd place being hotly contested between Eimear Furlong and Ciara Freyne with Eimear on Thistletown Olympia coming out on top by a mark. Eimear Furlong then completed the show jumping phase only on Brandon Nairobi to take the 158cms class. It was a most enjoyable day all round and, certainly, well worthwhile.
Results from the day can be viewed HERE
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Irish Pony Society Championship Show 2017 Results can be viewed HERE
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Irish Pony Society Championship Show Full Results can be viewed or downloaded HERE.
Please click HERE to view the Tom Robinson Gold Cup Results from the Irish Pony Society CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW 2016 which was held on Saturday 13th & Sunday 14th August at Punchestown Racecourse, Naas.
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Report for Hunter Pony Show, Coilog Equestrian Centre, 16th May
The Irish Pony Society Hunter Pony Show took place in Coilog Equestrian Centre on Sunday 16th. The day dawned bright and sunny with the dew glinting on the grass as the riders walked the colourful derby track using a full new set of interesting fillers.
With over 50 plants, trees, water jumps, railway crossing, brush fences and hay styles and with the great use of the natural ground levels ponies and riders alike learned a lot from riding this technical derby track.
There was a lovely atmosphere as spectators watched the working hunter and Connemara riders being put through their paces yet fully enjoying the test of their abilities.
With most riders wanting to jump the derby track the show hunter classes had low numbers of entries. The largest showing class of the day was surprisingly the Intermediate Show Hunter with the winner It’s Miller Time, ridden by Megan Devany, also taking the Championship with Calvin Nugent on Muffin, winner in the Intermediate Working Hunter taking Reserve. Megan also won the Open Show Hunter Championship on her pony Waterglades Gemini.
The winner of the 133 working hunter, Ardfry Sarabi, took Open working Hunter Champion, with rider Ben Crawford, with older sister Pataire taking Novice working hunter champion on her mount Ardfry Balmoral, with both siblings taking home rugs kindly sponsored by Quagga.
The Connemara working hunter ring had the largest entries of the day with the Judge Mrs Mary Moore awarding the Connemara championship at 7.30 in the evening to Lettergesh Bobby ridden by Alix Cunneen who had won the Novice Connemara Working Hunter in a field of 17 with reserve going to Glencroft Aruba ridden by Emma Byrne who had won her Ridden Connemara class earlier in the day.
The Starter Stakes championship was won by Dun for Now ridden by Tiggy Hancock, with reserve going to Parcglass Splendid Rainbow owned by Lady Nesta Fitzgerald.
There was the addition this year of Dressage classes which were divided into 133,143,153 & 158 cms height categories, with winners in each height section with Sarah Hall’s Mullentine Master Paddy taking overall highest score across the sections. The organisers commented that there was such interest in Dressage these classes would be a welcome addition to the show again next year.
With over 70 classes, 8 Judges and also the selectors for the International Working Hunter Teams watching with interest, this proved to be a very busy and successful day. The committee would like to thank all those who responded to Yvonne’s text requesting help, especially the Hartwell crew, without you the show would not have been so successful.