Full marks must go to the small but hard working Committee headed up by show organisers Annette Condie (Kahean Stud) and Jean Dart (Kilroe Stud) (pictured below left) along with Jackie Mallet (Dun Manus Stud), Liz Baillie, Amber Smeenk and Pam Mazur who made miracles happen to bring a wonderfully friendly event with competition, clinics and good social opportunities for all.  Saturday the 10th July was the most horrendous winter day in Melbourne and I was well prepared for a phone call to say that Sunday had to be postponed.  Jean and the rest of the "oversized Leprechauns" who made up the team, clearly had some credits with "him upstairs" and managed to negotiate a complete change of conditions for Sunday.  Everyone was delighted to welcome the sunshine and a beautifully crisp day - the ideal conditions for enjoying horses and showcasing this wonderful collection of Connemara ponies.

The ponies were well prepared for their native highland environment and were sporting shaggy winter coats, ideal to keep away the chills of an Irish winter.  The action packed day was extremely well supported and showed me that good will and camaraderie are alive and well ... and if you design a program that gives everyone a chance to participate, the show will be popular.

There was a fantastic line up of judges and helpers, everyone worked together well and the passion for Connemara Ponies made for a very strong feeling of unity and achievement. Both of the indoor arenas at Werribee Park were utilised and gave the competitors the opportunity for first class conditions and good going for the ponies.  The day had a very "St Patricks Day" feel with Irish music, green clover leaves and some very smart green hats to get everyone into the mood.

Prior to the commencement of activities in the official program, there was an award made to acknowledge a special achievement for the year ended 2009.  It was the Jo Heard Memorial award which was presented to Ballintrae Turkish Delight, ridden by Nicole Salisbury and presented by Jo's daughter Janna Heard, along with the Victorian Connemara Rep. Jayne Ramaker.  The story of the award is as follows ... When keen Connemara fancier Jo Heard passed away some years ago, her family decided to make this Memorial annual award in her honour.  The award goes to the pony (and owner) who are deemed to have been the best ambassadors for the breed throughout the year.  Not necessarily by winning lots of blue ribbons, but by taking part in many events and testifying to the versatility, temperament and companionship of the Connemara Pony. It was a very proud moment for all concerned.

Heading up the judging panel was Karen Holloway who has bred Connemara Ponies since 1994.  Karen brought with her a wealth of experience as she has spent a lot of time in Ireland working on the foremost studs and learning from the older experts.  Karen is a Connemara Classifier and Educator  and structured her day so as to ensure that she passed on her vast knowledge.  Luke Dodds (his mum runs the Boonahburra Stud) stepped up to the task of assisting Karen to conduct her clinic and he stood by to take in her judging assessments and comments.  This is what is needed in a remote country like Australia and it was great to see.  I observed a big difference in the way the ponies were led out after Karen's help and the competition classes were of a much improved standard.

The working hunter judge Sue Tuffnell brought to her role, a life time of hands-on experience, sprinkled with understanding and compassion.  Sue's Working Hunter workshop was terrific and all ponies were given every opportunity to learn and improve.  The competition showed much improved style over the jumps and the riders confirmed that better preparation allowed them to produce better work. Sue was a fantastic asset to the event as she doubled up as the announcer and kept us informed about the action throughout the day.

M. Kelly, formerly from the Barwidgee Stud and Equestrian Centre in Caramut in Victoria's Western District, was a fantastic choice of Dressage Judge as M is a keen Connemara fancier having bred many outstanding ponies at Barwidgee.  In fact, one of the special horses in my life was the lovely and talented mare Barwidgee Aran who belonged to my daughter when she was a teenager.  M brought to the event many years judging experience and her love of the breed helped her to give some constructive comments and ongoing training advice to the dressage competitors in the 2nd indoor arena at Werribee Park.

Oliver Evans is a popular jumping instructor based in the Bacchus Marsh area.  Ollie has a strong following of students who love his approach and talent with all sorts of horses ... from the ones who love to jump and have the talent to do it well ... to those who need a little more encouragement.  Ollie is familiar with Connemarra ponies and understands the natural ability of the breed.  Ollie gave a very informative clinic for the jumping horses and much improvement could be seen in the competition classes that followed. The standard tested the talents of the ponies as the obstacles reached 1.2 meters in  height.  We all enjoyed a demonstration from the wonderful Connemara Pony Monahan Harrison who was ridden by the diminutive Carissa Baily.  This combination have notched up some spectacular wins and are great ambassadors for the breed. (see pic below)

Left - Supreme sport horse (part-bred over 14.2), Sommerville Park Pollyanna ridden by Lucinda Doodt Centre - Supreme Connemara Performance Pony (pure-bred under 14.2), Ballintapper Galahad ridden by Paige Gardiner Right -  Supreme Connemara Performance Pony, part-bred under 14.2. Celtic Fairytale ridden by Kyla Lenehan The "Encouragement Award for Young Riders" was also won by Kayla Lenehan who made her parents and connections very proud as she is just 10 years old. The three Champions are pictured with Judge Karen Holloway.

Annette and Jean put together a first class program which, after the opening formalities, got started with an "In-Hand Clinic" with the very experienced international judge Karen Holloway.  She had pearls of wisdom for showing Connemara ponies and entrants in "Mountain and Moorland" classes.  The costume, saddlery and presentation are very different ... and Karen's advice was interesting and helpful.  I learned a lot as I listened on the sidelines!

There were a number of demonstrations throughout the day and these provided some interesting insights as to the versatility and wonderful disposition of Irish bred horses and ponies.  Glenormiston Ciara who is very proudly owned by Annette Condie of Kahean Stud, showed perfection for the in-hand mare.  She is a queen of the show ring and gave Karen Holloways's halter class students something to aim for.  Sue Tuffnell introduced the primarily pony loving crowd to the Irish Sport Horse and we saw a lovely example in Juliana Hummerston's  liver chestnut mare mare, Brigalow (x Kiltoghert Casey RID) Juliana and Sue are pictured left.

Representing the sport of Dressage was the very well educated Connemara gelding "Smack The Pony" ridden by 15 YO Katie Ryman who is a legend.  Katie has had "Smack" since he was young and has trained him right up to FEI (Prix St Georges) level.  This is a fantastic achievement for any rider, but in one so young, most commendable - Katie is set for a great future - perhaps as a future Australian Olympian?.  Smack reeled off some very expressive sequence flying changes and balanced, flowing half passes at the trot and canter.  The choice of music well suited the style and character of the pony and Katie would hold her own in top company. (Pictured below)

Presentation of Awards

In-Hand Beginner Section - Sponsored by Dun Manus Stud       
1^ST- Celtic Fairytale – Kayla Lenehan
2^nd – Glenormiston Ronan – Virginia Laycock
3^rd – Glenormiston Breege – Liz McRae
4^th – Petajack Belle – Karen Woods

In-Hand Open Section - Sponsored by Dun Manus Stud       
1^st – Ballentrae Turkish Delight – Nicole Salisbury   
2^nd – Celtic Seadrift – Kim Cox
2^nd – Somerville Park Pollyanna – Lucinda Doodt
4^th – Sugargum Sensation – Linda Dudderidge

Working Hunter Beginner Section  14.2 and Under- Sponsored by Anfield Park Retrievers
1^st - Kahean Jack of Diamonds – Chelsea Gilmour
2^nd - Colmaur Casey – Jackie Mellett
3^rd - Celtic Seadrift – Kim Cox
Over 14.2
1^st - Stormy Meadow – Felicity Ahern                       
2^nd - Green Hills Mr Magoo – Wendy Orchard

Working Hunter Open Section      14.2 and Under   Sponsored by Rupari Ronan – Newlands Stud 
1^st - Ballina Cleopatra – Molly Price
2^nd - Monahan Harrison – Carissa Bailey
3^rd - Boonahburra Fantail – Katherine Stewart
4^th - Celtic Fairytale – Kayla Lenehan
Over 14.2
1^st - Somerville Park Pollyanna – Lucinda Doodt
2^nd - Monahan Indiana – Melanie Brown

6 Bar Jumping Beginner Section         - Sponsored by Anfield Park Retrievers
1^st – Kahean Jack of Diamonds – Chelsea Gilmour
2^nd – Green Hills Mr Magoo – Wendy Orchard
3^rd – Celtic Seadrift – Kim Cox
4^th – Ballina Cleopatra – Molly Price

6 Bar Jumping Open Section       Sponsored by Monahan Stud
1^st – Monahan Harrison – Carissa Bailey
2^nd – Boonahburra Fantail – Katherine Stewart
3^rd – Ballintapper Galahad – Paige Gardiner
4^th – Monahan Indiana – Melanie Brown

Dressage Beginner Section - Sponsored by Yggdrasil Equestrian Training 
1^st - Glenormiston Ronan – Virginia Laycock
2^nd - Green hills Mr Magoo – Wendy Orchard
3^rd - Jazz – Sharyn Callander
4^th - Celtic Fairytale – Kayla Lenehan

Dressage Open Section - Sponsored by Greenlich Stud
1^st – Sunny Meadow – Felicity Ahern
2^nd – Ballintapper Galahad – Paige Gardiner
3^rd – Monahan Indiana – Melanie Brown
4^th – Stormy Meadow – Felicity Ahern

Boonahburra Stud Supreme Connemara Performance Pony - Pure-bred 14.2hh and under
Ballintapper Galahad – Paige Gardiner
Reserve                    Monahan Harrison -  Carissa Bailey

Blandings Stud Supreme Connemara Performance Pony - Part-bred 14.2hh and under   
Celtic Fairytale – Kayla Lenehan
Reserve            Jazz – Sharyn Callander

Celtic Stud Supreme Connemara Performance Sport-horse - Part-bred over 14.2hh
Sommerville Park Pollyanna – Lucinda Doodt
Reserve       Monahan Indiana – Melanie Brown

CPBSA Best Led Pure-bred Pony - Sponsored by Karen Holloway
Petajack Belle – Karen Woods

CPBSA Best Ridden Pure-bred Pony - Sponsored by CPBSA
Ballintapper Galahad – Paige Gardiner

CVAG Highest scoring Jumping Male   Monahan Harrison – Clarissa Bailey

CVAG Highest scoring Jumping Female Boonahburra Fantail – Katherine Stewart

Kahean Stud Highest Scoring Non-Jumping  Male Glenormiston Ronan – Virginia Laycock

Kahean Stud Highest Scoring Non-Jumping Female Jazz- Sharon Callander

Fred Wiltshire Memorial Trophy - Sponsored by Kilroe Stud
Ballina Cleopatra – Molly Price

Encouragement Award Kayla Lenehan

Connemara Showcase Slideshow

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