Swedish National Show in Alingsås
Our thanks go to Kristina Blad for this article and accompanying photos.
Bride Broderick s.Coosheen Finbarr (RC 99) Junior Champion.
On July 24th the Swedish National Show for Connemara ponies took place in Alingsås.The difficult task of judging the competitors fell to Yvonne Held (from the Schuracher Stud in France) and Christina Sjölander-Johansson (from Bolle Stud in Bollebygd) for the In-Hand classes. The Working Hunters were judged by Mary Holdhaus, and the Ridden classes by Anna Iletorp.
The weather was with us and the morning’s assessment of the young horses started with the one year-old fillies. Three ponies were forward, with Beautiful Bride Broderick winning the class. The 3 & 1 year-old Gelding classes had only one participant each and so they were awarded a bronze medal. Two-year colts or geldings also drew only one competitor, who was awarded a silver plaque. The Registered Mare 2-5 year-old class drew four mares and was won by Fredericksminde Lofty Made. Bjennesby and Kerstin Johansson were the owners of the victorious Bjennesby Fergi in the three year-old class for fillies and the Hagen Cup. Fergi a powerful individual by Poetic Justice, and was Reserve Junior Champion, beaten by the one-year old filly Bride Broderick.
Dangan Memory (RC GB M 1787) s.Castlestrange Fionn (S 1046) reserve Supreme Champion
After lunch were the mare classes and Maggie May (RC 1405) was the first to win a gold plaque. The next mare class received three gold plaques, won in the end by Dangan Memory (RC GB M 1787). Lovön Destiny (RC 1117) took the next class and another gold. The class of mares not yet in the studbook held some high quality stock and the first two mares forward received a gold plaque, with Gentle Farm’s Breeze winning outright.
Foal class consisted of fine five participants and the winner would be a daughter of last year’s stallion leased to Sweden, Clifden de l’Aulne, out of Yasmin Broderick. The class was of a very high standard, where all but one foal received a gold plaque.
Stallion classes are of course one of the highlights of the exhibitions and all those who came received gold plaques. Winner here were Coosheen Finbarr (RC 99) with Starrhults Bossanova (RC 106) in second.
Coosheen Finbarr (RC 99) s.Glencarrig Prince (S 1073) Supreme Champion. Photo by Anneli Dahlskog.
Of the old Connemaras, 18 year-old Kazmir got a well-deserved gold. Last exhibition of the day was the gelding class where Carl Bosson and his pony Elphin Darwin won the class. That drew the long day of displays to a close. The Champion Young Horse had already been appointed in this morning’s assessment of Bride Broderick. The Color Cup, where black, brown or chestnut coloured ponies may be shown, was awarded to mare Maggie May (RC 1405) (bay) with reserve going to Shade’s Dark Rosalee (RC 1368) (black). Best gelding was Elphin Darwin. It was time for Best In Show, awarded to those that won a gold plaque or to a class winner (awarded with no less than a silver plaque). After few turns in the ring stallion Coosheen Finbarr (RC 99) was judged to be the day’s most beautiful pony, with the mare Dangan Memory (RC GB M in 1787) as a reserve.
