Killacoran Blue & Eliza Stoddart

Some days ago, we recieved a very welcome e-mail from Eliza Stoddart, the talented teenager that brought her pony Killacoran Blue (son of Blue Smokie) to Silver Medal success at the European Pony Three-Day Eventing Championships in Avenches in Switzerland in 2008.

In 2007 they were invited to take part at Necarne Castle’s two-star three-day event in Northern Ireland where they finished third – a great stepping stone and giving them both a taste of international competition and things to come. On to 2008 when, in that year alone, Eliza’s record included prestigious wins with the eight-year-old grey gelding at Gatcombe Park in Gloucestershire and Weston Park in Shropshire not to mention the Championships themselves.They remained a steadfast team until September of that year when, in the face of GCSE’s and the move to a beautiful young horse ‘Strike A Pose’, Killacoran Blue was sold to a new home in Wiltshire where he now forges a wonderful new partnership with another talented young jockey, Pumbaa Goess-Saurau, both on the hunting field with the VWH and competitively (British Dressage, SJ and eventing..).

Eliza first met Killacoran Blue in 2005, rising 5years, from an old eventing contemporary of her mother’s, Helen Bell. Helen brings a few ponies over from Ireland each year to her base in North Yorkshire (her website can be found at helenbellequestrian.co.uk). She recalls that, in his passport/papers, his breeder was Seamus Glynn, Towerhill, Ballyglass, Claremorris, Co.Mayo – who, presumably was responsible for the hand-written notes on his foaling certificate from Clifden ’00. Eliza notes with a modest brevity:

“He is the most delightful and versatile Connemara pony you could wish to meet. He did everything with me…hunting in Leicestershire; Fernie Hunt Pony Club Camp ’05, ’06, ’07; Pony Club Eventing, qualifying for the PC Champs O6,07. M&M WHP’s qualifying HOYS as a 5yr old, BSPS Novice WHP Champion of 2006, qualified RIHS 153 WHP 2007.

Finally after finishing 3rd at Necarne Castle CCNP** ’07, he won Pony Trials at Gatcombe Park and Weston Park Spring ’08, leading to selection for the Great Britain Squad taking part at the Pony European Eventing Championships, Avenches, Switzerland in July 2008, where he was a part of the silver medal-winning team, and finished 5th individually.”

She was also gracious enough to provide us with some really wonderful photo’s of Killacoran Blue and herself in full flight during those championships. You can view them below, or in the main gallery.

Killacoran Blue’s impressive record in British Eventing can be viewed here

Eliza’s equally masterful record can be viewed here

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