Latest News
Spring Festival Report
Sunday morning dawned a lovely fresh day and 64 of the 73 catalogued stallions were paraded in Ring 2 for the sixth Annual Stallion parade in Clifden. The stallion owners must be complimented for turning out their ponies so magnificently. All stallions presented received a complimentary bag of feed kindly sponsored by Clifden Fruit and Veg. The Stallion Parade once again attracted huge entries firmly placing it as Ireland’s number one Stallion Parade. Thanks must go to Ann Reade for her excellent commentary and to Gearóid and Ciarán Curran for ensuring everything went smoothly on the day. Thanks also to the Office staff. Glorious sunshine beamed down on the hundreds of spectators and a great day was had by all in attendance.
Connemara Pony Show Supreme Champion 2009
Joe Burke from Carrowbrowne with Currachmore Cashel, Supreme Champion at the Connemara Pony Show 2009. Photo: Andrew Downes
Best Registered Connemara Pony at the Show
Pony: Currachmore Cashel Sire: Rosenaharley Dam: Tolka Bridge
Breeder: Eamonn Burke, Carrowbrowne, Castlegar, Co. Galway
Owner: Eamonn Burke, Carrowbrowne, Castlegar, Co. Galway
Reserve Champion
Pony: April Rose Sire: Streamstown Larry Dam: Errisbeg Dolly
Breeder: Michael Conneely, Letterdyfe, Roundstone, Co. Galway
Owner: Gearóid Curran, Clooniffe, Moycullen, Co. Galway
Excellent Results for Connemara Ponies at European Championships
Ballyowen Maybell Molly,(pictured above), a seven year old Connemara pony & 16 year old rider Kellie Allen from Kells, Co. Meath took Gold in Individual Showjumping at the recent European Championships in Moorsele in Belgium. Owned by Anthony McCormack, Ballyowen Maybell Molly pipped another Irish bred pony, ‘Murphy’s Flight’ in a jump-off for the coveted prestigious award.
Another Connemara, Silogue Darkie, ridden by Michael Duffy with Kellie Allen on Ballyowen Maybell Mollie, Emma O’Dwyer on Edna & Emily Turkington on Sambo Lino won European Silver in the Pony Nation’s Cup at the same event. A European Gold & Silver is an extraordinary achievement for Connemara Ponies and affirms the versatility & capability of the pony on an international stage.
Connemara Pony Sales
The upcoming Connemara Pony Sales at Clifden Mart will take place on Thursday 22/10/09 to Monday 26/10/09. Sale commences at 10am each day. For more information and to view catalogue visit www.connemaraponysales.com .
Blue Eyed Cream Ponies
To download the paper on Blue Eyed Cream Ponies written by Sorrell Lambton please click here. A huge thank you to Sorrell who put so much time and research into this paper.
Hall of Fame Awards
On Saturday 1st November 2008 the Annual CPBS Hall of Fame Awards were presented in the Westwood House Hotel, Newcastle, Galway. Five breeders received breeder Hall of Fame Awards. These were Mrs. Stephanie Brooks, Mrs. Margo Dean, Mr. Eamon Hannan, Mr. Peter Molloy, and Mssrs. Bartley and Tomás Ó Máille. Mrs. Elizabeth Petch, Mr. John Luskin and Mr. Bobby Bolger were also recognised on the night for the contribution they have made to the breed.
Five performance ponies were also honoured on the night for their achievements. These consisted of Showjumping Stallion Silver Shadow, owned by Philip McManus, Gleann Rua Maxwell owned and bred by Beatrice Maxwell Murphy, International showjumping pony Sillogue Darkie owned by Eamon Briscoe from Louth, Tulira Katie Daly owned and bred by Lady Hemphill, and dressage pony Western May owned by Mary Mitchell.
Stallion Parade DVD
The 2008 Clifden Stallion Parade DVD is now on sale featuring over 60 stallions. The DVD costs €30 + €3.50 p+p and is available from the CPBS Office.
More Success for Sillogue Darkie
On August 30th Sillogue Darkie with rider Galway man Michael Duffy, rounded off an excellent season as they were presented with the award for the Overall Leading Premier League Pony for 2009. This is the second year in succession that this pedigree Connemara gelding has achieved this result, last year with Gort girl Jessica Burke aboard. This is further success for Darkie as he is affectionately known having played a key role in the Irish team bringing home the Silver medals from the European Championships in Moorsele, Belgium earlier this year.
An Capaillín
Volume VII of An Capaillín is now on sale. It is available from the CPBS Office at a cost of €15 + €3 p+p. A total of 19 Connemara Ponies, representing countries from all over Europe, will compete at the European Pony Championships taking place in Moorsele, Belgium from 29th July to the 3rd of August. Ireland will have three Connemara Ponies taking part in the actions. Sillogue Darkie and Ballyowen Maybell Molly will form part of the Irish Show jumping team while Boston Burgler will compete on the eventing team. The very best of luck is wished to the three ponies and their owners.
Connemara Ponies Well Represented at European Championships
Boston Burgler (G0002771) started his career in show jumping in 2003 with Ciara Daffy, and bought by Bernadette Moloney in October 2007. He had 189 sjai points before starting his successful eventing career, and was highly placed in Ballindenisk, Camphire, and Tattersalls this year before being selected on the Irish pony eventing team heading for Moorsele.
Sillogue Darkie, owned by Eamon Briscoe, has represented Ireland individually and on teams in Belgium, Italy, France, England, Holland and Germany. Last year he won the Premier pony league with Jessica Burke, and is the leading the league this year with Michael Duffy. He has qualified for the 148A class at the RDS yet again, and been selected for the team jumping at the European Pony Championships, in Moorsele Belgium.
Ballyowen Maybell Molly, owned by Anthony McCormack, upgraded to A this year, and won the 6/7yr old Championship at Fontainebleu. She qualified for the 148A class at the RDS, and the Starfinder at Banteer. She has also been selected for a place on the Irish team to jump at the European Pony Championships in Moorsele.