2013 MCPB Events

SUNDAY JULY 28th

10^th ANNIVERSARY SHOW AND GATHERING
at Mullingar Equestrian Centre featuring the & Midlands All Ireland Broodmare Championship with a prize fund of €1,500, Clifden Loose Jumping Qualifier, 24 In-hand classes, 11 Performance classes including Irish Green Hunter Qualifier and Sarah Miller Future Performance Championship

Entry secretary Eilish Durcan, Clonkeen, Portlaoise. Co. Laois

Ph. 085 1636843 strictly after 6 pm - E-mail: eilishdurcan53@gmail.com

SUNDAY OCTOBER 20th

SALE OF REGISTERED CONNEMARA PONIES

At Mullingar Equestrian Centre

Going – Going – Gone!

What a turnout!  From 8.30 am there was a steady stream of horse trucks, boxes and cars heading towards Mullingar Equestrian Centre for the MCPB Connemara Fundraising Pony Auction and despite somewhat foggy conditions, people from all over Ireland set off in the early hours for this unique event.   Unique in the sense the MCPB is a voluntary group and their committee had organised a major auction with all the inherent procedures and safety requirements and this was done to a very high standard.

We are indebted to our auctioneers on the day – Dennis O’Roarke, Liam Connaughton and Francis Kearney – who gave so generously of their time and skill.  Robert Fagan and his team in Mullingar Equestrian did us proud in setting up the ring, auctioneers’ rostrum and the other facilities we required.  Last but not least a huge vote of thanks to the helpers on the day who worked tirelessly from early in the morning till late at night.   Without all of you, we could not have done this.

 There were 247 ponies in the catalogue and the first pony came into the ring shortly after 10.30.   Prices reflected what most sales and auctions are experiencing in the current climate – it is difficult to get a good price on foals and if you get back the cost of covering your mare and the vet fees, you are doing OK.   There is a surplus of young stock at present that largely stems from the ‘celtic tiger’ years.   There are buyers at the right price for good breeding but it is not easy.  The market trend in higher prices seems to be towards ridden/performance ponies and there was some good stock in the ring.  There were also bargains to be found especially in mares

Uniquely at this auction, since MCPB was not charging either the seller or purchaser commission, sales were encouraged outside the ring and business was brisk.   92 ponies were sold in the ring and as many were sold outside.

The last pony went through the ring a little before 8 pm.  Night had fallen and the buzz and warm atmosphere of Connemara pony breeders, friends, supporters and enthusiasts stilled until we meet the next time.
 

Principal Sponsor

A big thank you to everyone  - our sponsors, the competitors, the organising committee, Mullingar Equestrian Centre and the many others  who have contributed to making our show so successful. 

What a day for the Midlands as breeders from the 5 counties took both Supreme and Reserve Champion and Junior Champion.  Full show report here.

 In hand results     -     Ridden Results

2012 Supreme Champion
Brock Lodge Buster with Owner Patrick Kearns

2012 All Ireland Broodmare Champion
Glenmore Kelly’s Owen with owners
 Francis & Deirdre O’Reilly,
Tony Flaherty of  (L) and
Lord Tom de Vesci (R)

Claire Lacy with Junior Champion and
Reserve Champion
Hazelrock Cruise (Lucky Rebel-Smokey Jimmy)

2012 Foal Champion Vinura Rockola
(Errismore Rocky-Vinura Lola) and owners
Roger and Laura Brady with
Sponsor Susan Fleming

Sarah Miller Future Performance Winner
Aaron Quinn on Deirdre Scott’s Ben Ban Playboy
(Glencarrig Lexus-Festy Lady)

In addition to our own photos, one of the German visitors has kindly made all his photos available on the web and you are free to download - please do credit  Holger
Reimann if you use them for any publicity material - here is the link https://picasaweb.google.com/
112652766260813343586/MidlandSConnemaraShow

The Sun Shines on Midlands’ Breeders at
Clifden Show

A day that dreams are made of!  John Fitzpatrick took the Junior Championship with his three year old filly Irishtown Pippin (Linsfort Barney-Irishtown Sylvia) and then went on to stand Reserve Supreme Champion and take the Visitor Championship.  A quick rethink was necessary as the plan had been to travel home to Mullingar the Thursday
evening!   Pippin quickly found a welcoming stable and John was free to celebrate with friends, catch some sleep and enjoy the performance the next day before the Parade through Clifden

This was a truly historic day as John’s Irishtown Pippin and Pat and Mary Rabbitt’s Monaghanstown Silver share the same foundation mare bloodline of Hillside Sylvia who was owned by John’s father, Martin Fitzpatrick.

John Fitzpatrick with Irishtown Pippin and Pat Rabbitt with Monaghanstown Silver in the three year old filly class

On this very ground exactly 20 years ago Pat Rabbitt stood with April Star, a daughter of Hillside Sylvia who he bought from the Fitzpatrick family at Ballinasloe Fair as a wedding present for his wife Mary and who became the foundation mare at Monaghanstown Stud in Castletowngeoghegan.

Other Midlands’ breeders who were in the rosettes were:

Sean Dunne with his 2 year old filly Garryhinch Vanilla
(Monaghanstown Boy-Banks Vanilla)
who after taking her class, stood
Reserve Junior Champion to Irishtown Pippin

Sean Cooney took the Foal Championship with
his filly foal Loughmore Misty
(Coolillaun Cushlawn-Bearna Rua Star)

Banks Timber (Teglstrup Duke-Banks Square DoDo) did Seamus Hynds proud on his first outing when he claimed the blue rosette in the four to six year old stallion class

Mary and Pat Rabbitt took the blue rosette in the three year old filly class with Monaghanstown Silver
(Mountain Cascade-Monaghanstown Star)

The Midlands also showed the flag in the loose
jumping when Aidan Lee from Mount Temple
jumped his way to success with Master Kevin
in the final