Pony Squad for Europeans Announced
Sillogue Darkie at Clifden '09
EDIT: Following performance at Wierden in the Netherlands today (Thursday) Sillogue Darkie is Ian Fearon’s first choice for the team for Bishop Burton.
Following trials over the past two weekends at Cavan and Barnadown, Horse Sport Ireland have officially announced the initial squad that will represent this country at the European Pony Championships which will take place in Bishop Burton in the UK from July 30th to August 1st 2010.
What was somewhat surprising was that, given the breed’s success in Performance disciplines of late, of the seven rider squad, only one will be astride a Connemara. What was not surprising was which rider and pony that would turn out to be. Michael Duffy and Sillogue Darkie (G3-3906) have once again stepped up to the mark and will fly the flag for the breed on the International stage once more.
The squad was selected following trials which took place over the last two weekends in Barnadown and Cavan. Five places on the squad were secured from these trials, with Bertram Allen emerging in first and second places with Acapella Z and Cassandra Van Het Roelhof. He was followed in by Shane Kenny, Kate MacDonagh and Michael Duffy. The last two places on the squad were from wildcards and these were awarded to Emma O’ Dwyer and Shannon MacKenzie. The seven riders will now compete at the International Pony Show in Wierden with the five successful riders in the trials making up the squad from which the team for the Nations Cup at the show will be selected.
Ireland’s Team Manager Ian Fearon was delighted with the trial standards:
“The trials were true championship tests and they replicated the sort of tracks and indeed the sort of pressures that combinations will be on at the Championships,” he said. “The tracks were big and typical and it was great to work with both course builders, especially Mark McGowan, who will be building at this year’s European Championships.’
‘Both venues were excellent. The top ponies and riders that came through really had to earn their place. Overall, riders and their families were able to take part and learn what a high standard of riding and standard of pony you need for the European Championships.”
Sillogue Darkie – recent winner of our Pony of the Decade poll – recently qualified at Galway Equestrian Centre for Ireland’s Elite 148cm Championship – held every year at the Royal Dublin Society Show – for the eigth consecutive year. We’re not sure, but that has to be some kind of a record. (Darkies’ nephiew Aroma, by Sillogue Supreme, also got in on the act, qualifying for the Star Finders 5, 6 & 7 year old class at the RDS.) Only in the last few weeks, Darkie also passed the 1000 point mark on the SJI table, currently sitting pretty at 1008.
Each rider on the team is allowed to bring a second pony, and the Duffy’s have decided to take Carnroe Robuck (M-13547) – by Tulira Robuck (S-1041) ex Mira Lily (M-10653) by Westside Mirah (S-892) – to jump in the 1.20-1.25 classes. This pony owned by Aiden Malone of Galway is a full sister to Woodfield Rinrush (S2-1329) who won the 6/7yr old class in RDS and won the 7yr old class in Fontainebleau earlier this year. Carnroe herself won the 148 1.10m class at the Winter League Showjumping finals in Rockmount last March, also piloted by the impressive Duffy.
We’re certainly looking forward to another tour de force from the Irish showjumpers, on foot of such an impressive showing from the group that took Fontainebleau for all it was worth in April. A good showing by Darkie in Wierden will also cement his place in the Nation’s Cup team. Well done all. Well done Darkie.
