Castle Urchin supreme wins triple awards at Connemara Pony Show

THE supreme champion at the Connemara Pony Show was bred and owned by a local man, Henry O’Toole, Faulkeeragh, Clifden. Castle Urchin is by Abbeyleix Owen out of Castle Dame, and was also chosen as the confined champion of the show and the best mare aged eight to nine years.

The reserve supreme champion, and best six to seven years old mare, was Kingstown Dana, by Monaghanstown Fionn out of Kingstown Silver, bred by Joe Gorham, Glenbrickeen Farm, Clifden, and owned by Malachy Gorham, of the same address. Peter J Roberts, Myshall, Co Carlow, bred the visitor champion, Myshall Blossom, owned by Mrs F Morrison, Brookfield Farm, 79 Mahon Road, Portadown. This pony is also by Monaghanstown Fionn, but with a different dam, Myshall Lady.

Up to 6,000 spectators from home and abroad came to see a magnificent exhibition of top class Connemara ponies, and buyers, who kept a close eye on the record 550 entries in the 32 classes at the show, later paid good money for quality stock at the annual sale in Clifden Mart.

A six-year-old stallion fetched the top price €15,500, while a seven-year-old mare went for €12,500.

The trade for mares in foal ranged from €7,000 to €10,500, while broken ridden geldings in the four to seven year age bracket were sold for prices between €2,600 and €7,400.

SHOW RESULTS:

Supreme Champion — Castle Urchin, sire Abbeyleix Owen, dam Castle Dame, breeder and owner Henry O’Toole.

Reserve Champion — Kingstown Dana, sire Monaghanstown Fionn, dam Kingstown Silver, breeder Joe Gorham, owner, Malachy Gorham.

Visitor Champion — Myshall Blossom, sire Monaghanstown Fionn, dam Myshall Lady, breeder Peter J Roberts, owner Mrs F Morrison. Reserve: Caherlistrane Prince, sire Silver Shadow, dam Miss Muffet, breeder and owner, John Joe O’Neill, Caherlistrane, Co Galway.

Champion Ridden Pony — Kinlara Dunrowan, sire Barrymore Paprika, dam Haylesd, owner Mrs Norma Spurr, Ballygowan, Co Down, breeder Mrs Pat Hoyle, Shropshire, England. Reserve: Gleann Rua Native, sire Westside Fred, dam Moonlight, owner Ms Sarah-Jane Sinnott, Drimoleague, Co Cork, breeder Mrs Beatrice Maxwell-Murphy, Taylors Hill, Co Galway.

Champion Foal: Unnamed, sire Moorland Snowy River, dam Glanmore Lillian, owner and breeder Mrs Cathy Snow-Coyne and Martin Coyne, Letterfrack, Connemara.