Ridden Connemaras

Mrs Madeleine Beckman from Sweden and Mrs Heather Prescott from the UK judged the ridden Connemara pony classes.

The four and five-year-old class was won by Rakerin Bobby (Westonhouse Strabo Bobby - Gurrane Joy ). Owned by Ria O’Callaghan and bred by Tomas Keane, the gelding was ridden by her sister Aine who admitted to being “stuck for words” to describe her joy at winning in Dublin. “Ria bought him at Gort Mart but we never dreamed of this”, she said. Second was awarded to Rachel Moore from Co Down who celebrated her birthday riding the four-year-old mare Copperbeech Polly (Menlough Owen - Carrowkeel Star) owned by Tomas and Fiona Grimes.

Two on the trot

Dublin is a happy hunting ground for owners Patrice and Ted Byrne from Wicklow as their nine-year-old mare Glencroft Aruba (Patty’s Bastion - Glen Lady 2nd) ridden by Meabh Byrne won the class for riders under the age of 17. Aruba also won this class last year and in 2014.

Blackwoodland Quince (Glencarrig Prince - Blackwoodland Queen) owned by Anita Kelly and ridden by Lilly Kelly was runner up.

Little May (Glencarrig Lexus-Aran Jessica) owned by Kieran and Rosaleen McGrath from Hazelrock Stud got a stylish ride from young Evan McGrath for third.

Glencroft Aruba made her own bit of history when winning her second class of the day, ridden by Emma Byrne. Ciara and Rufina Shiel Mullen’s Assagart Delight (Burning Daylight-Kildromin Countess) ridden by Ciara Mullen took the blue rosette with Alicia Devlin Byrne on Susan Gageby Denham’s Bertraghboy Heaven third .

Banks reigns supreme

In the ownership of rider Sandra Burton from Lancashire and Joe Burke from Cloonisle stud in Galway, the winner of the stallion class was the nine-year-old Banks Timber, a son of Teglestrup Duke and Banks Squares Do Do bred by Peter Bank Mikkelsen in Denmark.

Reserve Stallion was the Carracanda River by Templebready Fear Bui owned and ridden by Kirstin McDonagh from Westport.

A good-looking line-up came before the judges for the Supreme Championship, they opted for Sandra Burton on Banks Timber with Glencroft Aruba bred by Joseph O’Neill from Leenane collecting Reserve Champion Connemara of the show and her third sash of the day beautifully ridden by Emma Byrne.

Burke said of the new champion, “He has won aproximately 15 Supreme Championships in two years and this season has won at Royal Highland, Royal International, and now Royal Dublin which in itself is a splendid achievement.”