New shows are always a welcome addition and the Connemara Foal of the Year Show was a worthwhile and well-ran venture. “We hope this show will be a unique platform for breeders to show their foals,” said chairman Kevin Bolger, outlining their initiative.

Three classes, with a handsome prize fund of €3,600 and 30 stallion nominations, were on offer last Saturday at Clifden Showgrounds, where Cathy Snow Coyne and Martin Coyne’s Moorland Silver River was the inaugural overall champion.

The last son of the couple’s well-known Moorland Snowy River won the opening 14-strong colt foal class, ahead of Caillin Connelly’s Letterdyfe Mylo and Michael Homes’s Carnane Timberland.

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Pat Collins, Pat Hoare and Roger Joyce also judged the filly foal class, which was won by Marty Keaney’s bay Murvey Mara. Jonathan Wall’s Cong Bright Star took the blue ribbon in second place and Caillin Conneely was in the prizemoney again, this time with Letterdyfe Elsa.

The third class of the day was for performance foals which were shown loose in the sand arena in front of judges Fiona Callahan, Owen Horan and Pat Meehan. They selected Michael Moran’s Silver Shadow-sired Rocklawn Killian as their winner, while Martin O’Sullivan’s trek from West Cork was rewarded with second place for Drumleap Paddy’s Night. Pat O’Neill’s Illanurra Lusca took the third spot.

The overall winner, judged by the six judges, was Moorland Silver River with the performance winner Rocklawn Killian in reserve.

“It is incredibly special to us that he stood where his father Moorland Snowy River was when he won the champion stallion in Clifden,” said Cathy Snow Coyne afterwards. “Silver River has a great showing pedigree as his dam Loughfadda Kimberly was our All Ireland broodmare champion in 2018. His granddam is also a twice Clifden winner. He is certainly true to type with wonderful movement, so hopefully the making of a very good stallion. He is not a replacement stallion because no pony will ever replace our special Moorland Snowy River.”

Noel Noonan, who owns this year’s Clifden stallion champion Manor Duke, was one of several generous sponsors to row in behind this new concept. “I think it has justified itself with the crowd that has turned out. We were delighted when Duke won at Clifden, it was like Limerick winning the All Ireland last year.”

Results

Colt foal: 1, Cathy Snow Coyne & Martin Coyne’s Moorland Silver River, by Moorland Snowy River - Lough Fadda Kimberley; 2, Caillin Conneely’s Letterdyfe Mylo, by Glencarrig Knight - Glencarrig Rose Marie; 3, Michael Holmes’s Carnane Timberland, by Banks Timber - Cnocban Yasha.

Filly foal: 1, Marty Keaney’s Murvey Mara, by Caherlistrane Bay - Murvey Rita; 2, Jonathan Wall’s Cong Bright Star, by Rogaire Na Locha - Glencarrig April; 3, Caillin Conneely’s Letterdyfe Elsa, by Glencarrig Knight - Castle Princess.

Performance foal: 1, Michael Moran’s Rocklawn Killian, by Silver Shadow - Meelickmore Cloon Robin; 2, Martin O’Sullivan’s Drumleap Paddy’s Night, by Plume de Kezeg - Active Beauty; 3, Pat O’Neill’s Illaunnura Lusca, by Ross Fear Bui - Illaunnura Heather.

Champion: Moorland Silver River; reserve: Rocklawn Killian.