Dublin Horse Show 2010
Cashelbay Prince with the Perpetual Challenge Trophy, owners Robbie and Barbara Fallon, and Judges. Photo by Foto-Job.com
It was a great day for Galway’s ponies and riders on Wednesday last at the Fáilte Ireland Dublin Horse Show in the RDS Showgrounds in Dublin. It was especially so for two men in particular – Padraig Flanagan and Pascal Crawford.
Firstly, young Loughrea-man Padraig Flanagan who won both sections of the Connemara Performance Hunter Championship. He first rode Bertie O’Halloran’s Young Walt (S1-1216) to top honours in the 5-7 y.o. section, before going on to steer the impressive Cashelbay Prince (S1-1187) to a comfortable victory in the 8-15 y.o. class as well. This Championship, now in its second year, is probably now the most prestigious competition for Connemaras under saddle, and Padraig should be delighted with his incredible achievement.
Pascal Crawford, Padraig’s tutor and the man responsible for producing both winning ponies and bringing them to such heights of performing excellence, should also be justly proud. Cashelbay Prince, by I Love You Melody, is well known on the Performance circuit (often under Claire Crawford) and will be returning to Clifden having bypassed that show in the last couple of years. At the recent Northern Ireland Festival in Cavan, competing against all breeds, Prince won four championships, one Supreme Championship, and one Reserve Supreme – in four different disciplines. In the end, he took gold in Dressage, the Riding class, Show Jumping, and M&M Working Hunter.
The London 2012 Olympic Games Jumping course designer, Bob Ellis, was the official course designer for the Show. He was supported by a team of experienced international designers including top Irish course designer Alan Wade, who has also been appointed to the 2012 Olympic Games Jumping course design team. The finished result has been described as very ‘going’ and stylish, including as it did a jump that was chosen by the RDS Equestrian Committee and the Committee of Arts from an award winning design by craft maker Garvan de Bruir.
Young Walt, winner of the Connemara Performance Hunter Championship 5-7 y.o. section, with owner Bertie O'Halloran and Padraig Flanagan. Photo: Ruth Rodgers
In the In-Hand ring, about 10 mares came forward to be judged by Olivia Haslett (IRL) and Dr. Otger Wedekind (GER). Cian Geoghegan’s seven-year-old grey mare (pictured at the top of this article, Photo: Ruth Rogers) Coosheen Lisa by Coosheen Stormboy out of Coosheen Linnet was judged the winner. She was shown by Gearoid Curran, with PJ Burke’s Creggrush Realta by Castlestrange Fionn out of Cailin Dana in second place.
Merryn Huntley-Jones’ Kilacloran (by Moy Hazy Cove out of Castle Star) actually made his own little bit of history by winning both the In-Hand and Ridden stallion classes and, uniquely, doing lap of honour entirely on his own before he won anything! Joanne Grogan’s Mountain Cascade by Laerkens Cascade Dawn out of Mountain Lady was second.
This year’s event was the 137th Dublin Horse Show and, despite a major recession in the Irish equine industry, the attendance proved higher than in recent years – reflected also in a slight increase in the number of entries. Competition was fierce for a total prize fund in excess of €920,000 over 15 international jumping competitions, 30 national jumping competitions and 95 showing classes. The event was formally opened by the Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin, Evie Wynne, who arrived in the Mayor’s 200-year-old horse-drawn coach. Some may be interested to know that, in 1869 when the Show began, the prizes for the high and wide leaps were £5 for first prize, £2 for second prize with £10 and a cup to the winner of the championship, with the runner up receiving a riding crop and a fiver.
On another note, the 148 cm National Championship saw the return of Sillogue Darkie and Michael Duffy. Clearly neither pony nor rider were back to full fettle following their recent misfortune and a refusal led to tenth place for a pairing that would normally have expected a podium finish. This past month really has been a cruelly disappointing close to one of the breed’s most successful ever partnerships. The winner of the class was Bertram Allen, fresh from victory in Bishop Burton, on Cassandra van het Roelhof.
See below for the results from the Connemara classes, and congratulations to all that took part!
Results
Class 68: Registered Connemara Mares
1st: 558, Coosheen Lisa, Cian Geoghegan, Blakehill Stud, Cong, Co. Mayo
2nd: 556, Creggrush Realtá, PJ Burke, Creggrush House, Oughterard, Co. Galway
3rd: 561, Lucky Hazel, Sinead Lusby McGrath, St Patricks, Cregmore, Claregalway, Co. Galway
4th: 555, Manninard Sprigeen, Eamon Burke, Carrabrowne, Castlegar, Co. Galway
5th: 560, Frederiksminde Catriona, Henry Kelly, Coilte Dubh, Blackwood, Athy, Co. Kildare
6th: 564, Greyrock Finnesterre, Joanne O’Connor, Ballinard, Fethard, Co. Tipperary
Reserve: 562, Lakeside Lady, Beatrice Maxwell Murphy, Gleann Rua Stud, Taylors Hill, Galway, Co. Galway
Class 69: Registered Connemara Stallions
1st: 572, Killacloran, Merryn Huntley-Jones, Clonjordan, Marshalstown, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford
2nd: 571, Mountain Cascade, Joanne Grogan, Bekan, Claremorris, Co. Mayo
3rd: 573, Crusader of Kippure, Michael Igoe, Kippure Stud, Manore Kilbride, Blessington, Co. Wicklow
Class 71: Registered Connemara Stallions, Mares & Geldings
1st: 591, Young Walt, Bertie O’Halloran, Barnacranny, Bushpark, Co. Galway
2nd: 594, Ciaróg, James Winterbotham, Killacloran Stud, Augrim, Co. Wicklow
3rd: 582, Ashfield Trobadour, Fiona Callaghan, Ashfield Stud, Edgeworthstown, Co. Longford
4th: 577, Carnalecka Earl, Louise Andrew, Castletalbot Stud, Blackwater, Co. Wexford
5th: 578, Brook Boy, Jean Finney, Chinauley House, 190 Catlewellan Rd, Banbridge, Co. Down
Class 72: Registered Connemara Stallions, Mares & Geldings
1st: 609, Cashel Bay Prince, Cashel Bay Pony Stud, Craughwell Road, Athenry, Co. Galway
2nd: 605, Iratu Varagnac, Jill Moffatt, Doon, Tahilla, Sneem, Co. Kerry
3rd: 596, Cloonisle Cashel Blue, Amanda Dempsey, 54 Loughmoss Park, Carryduff, Co. Down
4th: 612, Ashfield Jack Sparrow, Stuart Whittle, No. 2 Forge Terrace, Ballynakelly, Dungannon, Co. Tyrone
5th: 600, Blackwood Fernando, Claire Devlin, Old Boley, Glencree, Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow
Class 73: Registered Connemara Mares & Geldings
1st: 615, Dunally Grey, Mrs Julie Corbett, Rockvale, 44 Dromore Road, Ballynahinch, Co. Down
2nd: 617, Ballyalt Calla Lilly, D & A Henderson, 33 Coach Road, Comber, Newtownards, Co. Down
3rd: 619, Cloonboo Dancer, Elaine Taaffe, Portree Stables, Straffan, Co. Kildare
Class 74: Registered Connemara Mares & Geldings
1st: 583, Gloster Boy, Helena Dawson, Kilronan, Cloghran, Swords, Co. Dublin
2nd: 626, Kilbride Ruby, Jane Lumley Fleming, Crossmahon, Knocknagurrane, Bandon, Co. Cork
3rd: 632, Cashelbay Joe, Henry O’Toole, Faulkeeragh, Sky Road, Clifden, Co. Galway
4th: 625, Claremount Lad, Catherine Fell, c/o Philip Copithorne, Fort Arthur, Kinsale, Co. Cork
5th: 593, Kippure Sabrina, Joan Vaughan, Ballyglassin, Killeagh, Co. Cork
Class 75: Registered Connemara Mares & Geldings
1st: 640, Derrymore Paddy Finn, Mrs Philippa Mansergh-Wallace, Grenane House, Tipperary, Co. Tipperary
2nd: 161, Mister What, Elizabeth Lyons, Tipper, Naas, Co. Kildare
3rd: 637, Duntally Storm, Fiona Donohue, Parkmore, Creagh, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway
4th: 636, Blackwood Dancer, Siobhan Cazabon Sullivan, Cleggan Beach Riding Centre, Cleggan, Connemara, Co. Galway
5th: 634, Springlawn Boy, Ballinteggart Stud, Drumnasoo Rd, Portadown, Co. Armagh
Class 76: Registered Connemara Stallions Under Saddle
1st: 572, Killacloran, Merryn Huntley-Jones, Clonjordan, Marshalstown, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford
2nd: 648, Braveheart of Kippure, Michael Igoe, Kippure Stud, Manore Kilbride, Blessington, Co. Wicklow
3rd: 609, Cashel Bay Prince, Cashel Bay Pony Stud, Craughwell Road, Athenry, Co. Galway
4th: 649, Newtown Pedro, Peter Kyne, Newtown, Moycullen, Co.Galway
5th: 647, Cheeky Bobby Sparrow, John Connolly, Kilrush, Narraghmore, Athy, Co. Kildare
Well done Eamonn on your RDS Report. One omission however. There is no mention of the Ridden Championship, probably because it came about quite late in the day. The last two of the four Ridden Connemara Classes, Class 75 for riders over 17 and Class 76 for Ridden stallions, started at 5.45 pm and went on ’til after 7.30, when the Ridden Championship trophy, the Eugenia Murray Cup, was presented to Champion Derrymore Paddy Finn, rider Esme Mansergh Wallace, and the Reserve Ridden was Merryn Huntley Jones’ Killacloran. As you have all the other earlier class winners it would nice to see the Champion and Reserve acknowledged also to complete the picture.
Niamh
You are quite right Niamh! Thanks for fleshing that out for us, and, while I’m at it, congrats to yourself on your report of same (readers you can check it out here).
Eamonn, I wonder if you could assist? I am constatly looking for material to send articles to ICCPS web, All Societty newsletters and some Equine magazines. All fo course on the Connemara Pony. I particularloy want items and one good photo for each if possible on Performance ponies and their event results. If any one can help from any society, or just as an owner or rider of a Perfroming Connemara then I am all ears and the mail box is always open.
Hope someone and many, can assist with this request. Regards to all John Tennant, ICCPS Publicity Officer.