Wayne, Il: On September 13 – 16 the United States Eventing Association held the American Eventing Championships in Wayne, Illinois. All horses that qualified to participate had to have placed first, second or third in at least one event. Seventeen yr old Lauren Ochs & Bantry Bay’s Kenny (Concord River's Clipper X Bantry Bay's Dark Rose) qualified for the Training Junior/YR division. Her mother, Tracey Ochs, sent the following report. “We left on Sept 10 for our 20 hour journey stopping in Stoneboro, PA at a bed & breakfast with stalls for an overnight. The event was held at the Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne. The grounds are fabulously landscaped with flowers blooming everywhere, beautiful spectator platforms, dressage and show jumping rings with footing to die for and a cross country course that was equally maintained and spectacular. The Olympians were there with their mounts and the excitement and competive spirit was in the air. Eventers are a supportive group. From the Advanced riders to the Beginner Novice riders a helping hand, a bit of advice or a pat on the back are all at the ready.

Lauren & Kenny finished their dressage test with a 31.1 landing them in 6th place. Next would be cross country. The XC course was very demanding. The course was topped off and very technical, just as you would expect a championship course. Many competitors were struggling with the time. Lauren & Kenny has a double clear, no jumping faults & no time faults. This moved them into 5th place. Show jumping loomed ahead. Competitors rode in order of placement from last to first. The pressure was intense. The course was designed for rails to come down. Alot of the jumps had flat cups, no room for error. The pressure was taking its toll on Lauren, usually a very steady competitor. They watched rider after rider pull rails. Finally it was their turn. Kenny was jumping nicely and all was going well. One rail would put them out of the ribbons. They were approaching a big in and out, vertical to a big, maxed out oxer. Lauren asked Kenny to go long over the vertical but he decided to throw in an extra stride. She got ahead of him, her nerves were showing. It looked grim, she was slightly on his neck, had lost a rein and in this position had no seat or leg to drive him on over this oxer. But it is why we love this pony so much, he said I've got this, he checked himself back, put Lauren back in the saddle and cleared that big oxer with ease. He didn't have to jump that jump he did it because he wanted to. He was the smallest horse in his division with the biggest heart. They went clean and finished 5th! (Note: The first place finisher was later disqualified so Lauren and Kenny actually finished in forth!) During the pinning ceremony the President of USEA pulled Lauren & Kenny aside and asked the photographer to take some pictures of her with Kenny & Lauren. She said she had been watching them compete and had fallen in love with Kenny. She wanted his picture to be on the USEA website! We know how special he is but it is truly heartwarming when someone else sees it too.

Lauren & Kenny won $300.00 from USEA, a $100.00 gift certificate to Bit of Britain, a pair of SSG gloves, an absolutely beautiful saddle pad from Fleeceworks and a bunch of other cool products to use on our much loved pony.

A final note, upon returning home, Kenny & I did the UNH Fall Horse Trials Beginner Novice. Kenny won for me too. God I love this pony!”

The picture shows Kenny at the Annual ACPS Region 1 Connemara Breed Show in South Woodstock, VT where he won the RHF O'Harazan Perpetual Trophy for 2007 Area 1 Grand Champion Connemara, High Point Dressage Award, Sue Dexter Memorial Versatility Award, Reserve, ACPS Region 1 Junior Championship, and Reserve Champion Connemara Working Hunter.

Baltimore, MD: Will Ya Love Me (*Grange Finn Sparrow x *Lady Doreen) aka "Willie" is a pure bred Connemara that has been doing exceptionally well at the higher levels in the eventing world. It comes as no surprise that he was sired by Grange Finn Sparrow who was a fabulous jumper. Willie is 9 y/o and has been owned by his rider, Courtney Sendak, since he was two. Following are some of his accomplishments:

Loudoun Hunt PC, Open Intermediate, 5th Place
Waredaca Horse Trials, Open Intermediate, 9th
Maryland Horse Trial at Loch Moy, Open Intermediate, 10th
Waredaca Horse Trials, Open Intermediate, 10th
Seneca Valley PC, Open Prelim, 3rd
Waredaca Horse Trials, Open Prelim, 2nd
MCTA Horse Trials, Open Prelim, 3rd

NCDCTA Horse Trials, Area II Prelim Champs, 2nd

Courtney says they are hoping to do another year of intermediate (2008 Season) and hopefully Jersey Fresh ** or Southern Pines in the spring. Next fall, pending any setbacks we are going to try and run around an advanced. Good luck to Courtney and Willie!!

Lincoln, MA: Tower Hill's Carmody (Chiltern Copa x TH Glendalough) had a big weekend in Lincoln MA. She took Lead Line Champion with Ellie McCauley up, and then she and Libby McCauley won Pony Hunter Champion as well as Year End Championship because she won the Pony Hunter Championship at the Wayland Weston Spring Open Show. Libby also competed on Sunday as a D-2 at the D-Rally at Groton Pony Club. They went clean in cross country and stadium, and had a nice dressage test. Libby was the only person in her team who went clean all around. Carmody is owned by Sally Oxnard and leased by the talented McCauley girls.

Uetze-Katensen, Germany: Patricia Schmidt from Patty’s Connemaras in Germany is happy to announce that Springfield Shadow just has passed the 4 weeks lasting stallion performance test and is now a fully approved stallion. His scores and some pictures can be found at: http://www.connemara.de/springfield_shadow.htm Patty says that Veuve Cliquot, sire of Marian McEvilliys stallion Pattys Look At Me and Mel Deux’s Pattys Noblesse Oblige is also doing very well. For news of Clici go to http://www.connemara.de/pattys_veuve_clicquot.htm