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(Updated 15/05/22)
AT RAHEEN NA GUN FOR THE IRISH PONY SOCIETY SPRING SHOW 2022
Murky, damp weather greeted competitors, judges and stewards for the Irish Pony Society Spring Show held at Raheen Na Gun on Saturday 30th April. This did not dampen the spirits as there was plenty of buzz around the show ground due to the addition of Royal International Horse Show Qualifiers for both working hunter ponies and ridden coloured classes. Ger O’Brien and his team at Raheen Na Gun efficiently built tracks and set up two very inviting courses for the riders and were on hand all day adjusting fences. With over 60 classes to enter there was lots to entertain the spectators. Some of the largest classes of the day were the Connemara and M & M Classes with many white manes flowing. Rachel Flynn’s Firey Dipolmat ridden by Aoife Flynn won the Connemara Working Hunter Championship with the Connemara Ridden Championship being presented to Emily Widger’s Skellorn Prairie Starlight ridden by Emma Mackey. There was great excitement in ring 2 where there were two spots available for the Royal International Horse Show in the BSPA coloured ridden section. Mr Clive Johnston picked Tara Kelly’s Dunbeggan Dreamer ridden by her daughter Penny in the pony class and Sara-Jane Weissenbach’s delightful mare Freya’s Choice won the horse section and also stood BSPA champion with Dunbeggan Dreamer taking reserve.
The mini ponies and riders put on a beautiful display of riding with the Mini Show Pony Championship won by Rachel Lane’s Barkway State Affair ridden by Amber Lane with Emily Widger’s Thistledown Gold Medal ridden by Joe Mackey taking the Mini Show Hunter Championship. Encouragingly for the future of breeding in Ireland there were lots of entries in the Young Stock Classes with Sharon O’Brien’s Bridie taking the In-Hand Championship. Aoibhinn Ruanne won the Intermediate Championship riding Helena Hennessy Ruane’s Ballarin Bada Bing with Aoife O’Connor’s Imperial High Tide picking up the Show Hunter Championship for the second year running.
The Working Hunter track was nice and inviting but took plenty of riding and encouraged all riders to concentrate and position their ponies correctly with judges Mrs Mary Carter and Mr Brian Lewis commenting on the standard of riding and the smiles of all the competitors. The Novice Working Hunter Championship was presented to Cheryl Cusack’s Killone Dasher and ridden by Conor Cusack with the Open Working Hunter Championship won by Melanie Marnane’s Danny’s Pride ridden by Emily Marnane. The Performance Ring was busy all day with lovely little ponies enjoying the jumps in the smaller classes with riders smiling for photographer John O’Carroll who seemed to know each child by name.
After a course change in ring 3 it was time for the much anticipated BSPS Royal International Horse Show Working Hunter Qualifiers. With Ger O’Brien’s clever course building proving tough but fair. Judges Mrs Paula McCarthy and Miss Amanda Torrens were tasked with judging the highly competitive classes. With the following picking up their qualification for Hickstead running from 26th – 31st July. Evie Kennedy riding Maihem First Edition winning the Nursery Stakes, Ned Kelly managed to get two qualification spots one on Tinnecarrig Milo in the 133cm and the second in the 143cm section with Rowdown Archer both owned by his very proud Mum Lucy Kelly. The 153cm qualifying spot went to Mairead Ryan’s Indian Joe ridden by her son James and Lily Nadir picked up the final qualifier by winning the 158cm section on Country Strong they also stood R.I.H.S WH Champion with Indian Joe Reserve.
With over 350 entries throughout the day the long awaited Supreme Championship took place under the persistent grey skies but compared to other parts of the country had escaped the worst of the rain. With 14 Champions in the ring the Judges Miss Joanne Quirke, Mrs. Mary Carter, Mr. Clive Johnston, Mr. Brian Lewis, Mrs. Desna Lewis, Mrs. Paula McCarthy, Miss Amanda Torrens and Mrs. Pat Byrne deliberated and discussed and finally chose their Supreme Champion to be Helena Hennessy Ruane’s Ballarin Bada Bing who had won the Intermediate Championship earlier in the day. Aoife O’Connor’s Imperial Tide ridden by Sadhbh O’Connor who had won the Show Hunter Championship earlier that morning was presented with the Reserve title.
The IPS would like to thank all who supported the show, the Judges, Stewards, Committee and all the new members who have joined this year, the non-members who experienced IPS for the first time and all its loyal members that travel the country supporting shows and we look forward to two great days at the Championship Show which takes place on the 3rd & 4th of August 2022.
Full Results: Results of the IPS Spring Show 2022
Archive:
IPS Summer Show Report and Results 2021
Introduction to IPS Gold Cup SLW Area IPS