Exciting times ahead for the Midlands Connemara Pony Group with an increased Sponsorship Package of €10,000. It is all systems go for their annual show at Mullingar Equestrian Centre on Sunday July 29th.

The group founded by Sean Dunne, Seamus Hynds, Mary Rabbitt, John Harte and Gerry Mahon has grown considerably since it first took place 14 years ago. Ciaran Curran from Moycullen won the inaugural competition with the famous mare Coosheen Breeze, he returns again this year to judge at the show.

2017 saw record entries at the show in both in hand and performance classes. It is thanks to main sponsors Willows Ingredients Ltd that their flagship class, the All-Ireland Broodmare Championship for mares with foal at foot has a prize fund of €1,250. In addition there is an added travel bonus of €50 per mare that participates in this class. The sponsors have also generously increased the prize fund for the foal classes to €950.

Connolly’s Red Mills are supporting the Junior Champion, Ridden Champion, and the Supreme Champion.

The performance rings are on outstanding sand surfaces with a total of 20 classes. A new innovation will be the Willows Ingredients Ltd Working Hunter Challenge with an outstanding €1,000 to the winner and €500 for reserve. There are two classes confined to Midlands members and four Clifden Qualifiers. Devinish Nutrition have taken over the Sarah Miller Future Performance Championship for five- to nine-year-old ponies.

Another discipline that generates interest is the inclusion of an Equitation champion where the winning rider receives a pair of Dubarry Boots value €300. There will be two stallion classes, four- to six-year-old old and seven-year-old and over.

The group are indebted to the local Business community and friends of the group that have made it possible to provide sponsorship of every class. Jackson Transport & Bloodstock Agent Jim Derwin underwrite the introduction of Part Bred Performance classes.

Please note that the number of entries are restricted in the Working Hunter /Jumping Performance classes and classes may fill before closing date.

Entries close Friday July 20th Definitely no late entries, entries can be made online via www.itsplainsailing.com/club/mcpb

For further info see midlandsconnemaraponies.com