European and Nordic Championships
Some Man for One Man
Nice n'Curly
We were thrilled to get the following article from Cecilie Springer. It is absolutely vital that our ponies compete with the best at the highest levels and our thanks to Cecilie for keeping track of how our star ponies perform on the international stage.
Connemara ponies at the European Championship 2011
The European Championship was held in Poland in the end of July. In total 53 ponies competed in showjumping, 48 in eventing and 51 in dressage. I was able to identify a total of 16 purebred Connemara Ponies and 10 partbreds. Of the purebreds 7 participated in showjumping, 8 in eventing and 1 in dressage. The ponies were bred mostly in Ireland or France with 7 ponies each. One was bred in Belgium and one in Denmark. Most of the partbreds are from France. Unfortunately Connemara ponies did not win that many medals this year, even though the number of participants was high.
The best result was achieved by the 25% Connemara pony Mon Nantano de Florys (grand dam Ever de Garenne), who won both individual and team gold in eventing. Also on the French gold team was 50% Connemara Plume de Virey (by Thunder du Blin). Best purebred Connemara in eventing was Killacoran Blue placing 14th.
In showjumping the best Connemara result was achieved by Ballyowen Maybell Molly (by Monaghanstown Fred) finishing 14th. In dressage only one purebred competed. This has been the case for many years, and in recent years this single pony has been the French stallion Italic des Landes. He scored in the middle of the group.
The breeding of the ponies include the jumping “classics” such as Thunder du Blin (3 progeny), Ashfield Bobby Sparrow (2), Westside Mirah (1), Dexter Leam Pondi (1) and Banagher Magee (1). All top showjumping ponies themselves.
Here is a list of the ponies was able to identify. I have taken great care to make this information as accurate as possible. It is based on thorough online research and official databases. However I cannot guarantee it is free of errors or that I have not missed a pony, especially the list of partbred ponies is probably incomplete. Some countries just don‘t have official databases with free access available online – or I have been unable to find them as I do not know the language… I apologize for not mentioning the name of any rider. They are not included in my original data. As for pictures, I was not in Poland so I don’t have any. I have included my pictures of the two Swedish showjumping ponies. They are from an international showjumping competition held in Denmark in August. If you have anything to correct or ponies to add, please let me know!
European Championship 2011
| Name of Pony (country of birth) (sire / dam / sire of dam) |
Competing for | Discipline |
| Italic des Landes (France) (River des Landes / Deesse des Landes / Robber Roy) |
France | Dressage |
| Annilaun Sweet Jesse (Ireland) (Annilaun Oscar / Sweet Charity / Little Joe) |
Poland | Eventing |
| Hesteklewa Wendy (Denmark) (Pilgaards Sammy Junior / Hesteklewa WildWoodsWish/ Øxenholm Godot) |
Denmark | Eventing |
| Jolie Jumper (France) (Thunder du Blin / Eurydice du Grisy / Abbeyleix Apollo) |
Italy | Eventing |
| Jumper D’Aspe (France) (Abbeyleix Moon / Dak Lia Du Delta / Six Pence Duff) |
Italy | Eventing |
| Killacoran Blue (Ireland) (Blue Smokey / Carravilla Rose / King of the Hills) |
UK | Eventing |
| Maverick Du Reuil (France) (Banagher Magee / Pilgrim de Garenne / Ashfield Aengus) |
Belgium | Eventing |
| Newtown Westie (Ireland) (Westside Mirah / Derrymore Lass / Glencarrig Finn) |
Ireland | Eventing |
| Non Stop de Molene (France) (Bambi de Bazire / Florine II / Va Tout du Ruere) |
France | Eventing |
| Ashlair Lady (Ireland) (Ruaille Buaille Bui / Ashlair Beauty / Abbeyleix Fionn) |
Switzerland | Showjumping |
| Ballyowen Maybelle Molly (Ireland) (Monaghanstown Fred / Ballyowen Bonny Bell / Callowfeenish Mairtin) |
Ireland | Showjumping |
| Clogherboy Mirah (Ireland) (Westside Mirah / Secret Pal / Mervyn Kingsmill) |
Switzerland | Showjumping |
| Goliath van de Groenweg (Belgium) (Conor Mac Nessa / Glencarrige Delphinium / Coosheen Finn) |
Belgium | Showjumping |
| Ix de L’Aulne (France) (Dexter Leam Pondi / Castille d’Aulne / Gold Fort) |
Sweeden | Showjumping |
| Joyau D’Argent (France) (Thunder du Blin / Tuya II / Idenoir) |
France | Showjumping |
| Some Man For One Man (Ireland) (Ashfield Bobby Sparrow / Misty Maiden / Island Hurricane) |
Sweeden | Showjumping |
| Partbred connemaraponies
Only the connemara part of the breeding is listed – this does not mean the rest is unknown. |
||
| Glacy du Halage (France) ( / Quardrette III / Maylord Sparrow) |
France | Dressage |
| Opale des Vents (France) ( / Dame des Vents / Abbeyleix Apollo) |
France | Dressage |
| Kisaute Ho D’Othon (France) ( / Baltique II / Lord Diamond’s) |
France | Eventing |
| Lillefot (Sweden) ( Frederiksminde Hazy Chance / / ) |
Switzerland | Eventing |
| Mon Nantano de Florys (France) (granddam Ever de Garenne) |
France | Eventing |
| Plume de Virey (France) ( Thunder du Blin / / ) |
France | Eventing |
| Silver Fox III (Ireland?) (Ashfield Bobby Sparrow / / ) |
Ireland | Eventing |
| I Am D’Hories (France) ( / Manna / Gulf Stream) |
Italy | Showjumping |
| Juke Box du Bohut (France) ( Don Juan V / / ) |
France | Showjumping |
| Polotice de Florys (France) ( / / Ors Tulira Sparrow / granddam by Islam Sparrow Kim) |
France | Showjumping |
The Nordic Championships 2011
Hesteklewa Wendy
This championship is much like the European, but with only Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland competing. Also there is a division for ponies under 140 cm in dressage and showjumping. Many of the ponies competing here are the same as at the European Championship.
The championship in showjumping and dressage was held in Denmark in the beginning of July. This was a major success for Connemara ponies. 3 Connemara ponies competed in showjumping and they won three gold and one silver medal! The individual showjumping championship was won by Ix de L’Aulne (by Dexter Leam Pondi). Team gold went to Sweden with Ix de L’Aulne and Some Man for One Man (by Ashfield Bobby Sparrow) on the team. Team silver went to Norway with Ice and Fire D’Albran (by Dexter Leam Pondi) on the team. In dressage there was only one partbred connemara in the 140 cm and under competition. This was Poetic Poetry (by Poetic Justice) who placed 5th individually and was on the Swedish team winning silver. Again all the ponies are from the “classic” jumping lines including the dressage pony!
The championship in Eventing was held the following weekend in Denmark. 2 Connemara ponies participated: the highly experienced 19 year old Swedish stallion Nice n’Curly and the Danish mare Hesteklewa Wendy. Unfortunately the rules were change in the last second, and Wendy’s rider was forced to make a choice between her 2 ponies. Only one was allowed to compete and the other was allowed to participate for practice only. Wendy ended up not being part of the competition. A completely new and impressive cross country track had been built for this competition. It did however prove too much for most of the ponies and only 4 out of 15 completed the course. This included the 2 Connemara ponies who both had a clear round on the fences! The bronze medal was won by Nice n’Curly. The best result was achieved by Hesteklewa Wendy, but unfortunately it did not count. Her rider won gold with her other pony, so not that much of a loss… In September, Hesteklewa Wendy won the Danish Championship. Included are my pictures from the cross country phase at the championship.
Nordic Championship 2011
| Name of Pony (country of birth) (sire / dam / sire of dam) |
Competing for | Discipline |
| Poetic Poetry (Sweden) (Poetic Justice / / ) |
Sweeden | Dressage |
| Hesteklewa Wendy (Denmark) (Pilgaards Sammy Junior/ Hesteklewa Wild Woods Wish/Øxenholm Godot) |
Denmark | Eventing |
| Nice-n’-Curly (Sweden) (Nice-n’-Easy / Corinne II / Earl of Doon) |
Sweeden | Eventing |
| Ice and Fire D’Albran (France) (Dexter Leam Pondi / Underline of Laps / Fort Doolin) |
Norway | Showjumping |
| Ix de L’Aulne (France) (Detxer Leam Pondi / Castille d’Aulne / Gold Fort) |
Sweeden | Showjumping |
| Some Man For One Man (Ireland) (Ashfield Bobby Sparrow / Misty Maiden / Island Hurricane) |
Sweeden | Showjumping |
Cecilie Springer
www.springerconnemara.dk
Thank You Cecilie, very interesting to read about ponies competing in other countries.
I was just wondering, does anyone know if there is a Grade 1 Chestnut Stallion in the Country, and if so which County, Thank you
We have one in Denmark, although he has been inspected in Germany (class 1). He competes in up to 110 cm showjumping at the moment.
http://skaergaarden.dk/DK/Stutteri%20Sk%C3%A6rgaarden%20Connemara/Avlshingste/First%20Night.aspx (only danish)
Thanks Cecilie, a little to far to travel my girl! but nice to see First Night all the same.
There is one standing in Scotland called Syderff Gallant Knight. He is with ‘Kirtle Connemaras’ at the Albie Stud. There website is http://www.albiestud.co.uk
Thanks Rose, I’ll take a look.
Great piece