Elmshoot's Krispin O'Thule and Martin Fitzgerald are awarded the Supreme Championship cup from Catherine Prendergast.

Peotone, IL: A little bit of Ireland came to Illinois this past weekend in the form of the second annual Midwest Connemara Breeders Show. People from as far away as California and Florida, as well as Ireland, came to see the show and have some good old Irish fun!! Three rings ran for most of the day, while in the background children were bouncing in the bounce house, going for hay rides, or practicing their Irish dancing.

The Overall Performance Purebred Champion was *The Quietman (Moy Hazy Cove X Blaithin Chonamara by Cloonisle Cashel). It was his very first undersaddle show and his first jumping show.

Windy Isles Prince.

In the in-hand ring, where judge Heather Sherratt was in charge, Elmshoots Krispin O'Thule (*Gunsmoke X Ridgetop Thule Mist by Aladdins Denver) was crowned the Supreme Champion with the mare *Murvey Inver Lor (Currachmore Cashel X Murvey Cara by Boden Park Finnard) in Reserve. Krispin is owned by Martin Fitzgerald, himself an Irish import!

The Junior Champion was Windy Isles Island Prince (*Coral Bobby X *Fairyhill Queen by Fairyhill Hawk) with Sooey Annabelle (*The Quietman X *Kilmurray Aisling Owen by Glanns Owen)in reserve. The Foal Champion was Blue Rock Maria (Wildwych Eclipse X *Murvey Inver Lor by Currachmore Cashel).

Earlier in the day there had been class after class filled with gorgeous ponies and even a Connemule that stole the hearts of the crowd.

Ridgetop Hazy Blue with Pat McNichol.

The older mares class was won by Ridgetop Hazy Blue (Landgate Bluebeard X Kilshany Misty Dan) owned by Jill McNichol. She also won the broodmare class. Inver Lor, owned by John Keany, took the blue in the younger mare’s class. A striking gelding by Aladdin’s Denver, Tommy Mulloy, won the gelding’s class. He is out of Surprise Beginning and owned by Terry Cropp.

In the stallion class, one of the smallest of the day, the judge had to choose from four lovely stallions and chose Krispin O’Thule, who eventually became the supreme champion.

After the in-hand classes were complete, there was the Foal Race and the Donkey Derby. In the foal race, the dams are taken to one end of the ring while the foals are held at the other end. At the word go, the foals are released to run to their mothers. Of course, there is great confusion before all foals find their mothers. Windy Isles Cisco Kid (*The Quietman X Arbor Lane’s Baily by *Gunsmoke) made a bee-line for his mother, and was the winner.

The Donkey Derby. Notice the fallen rider's foot. He was not hurt..

The mule, a happy accident out of Fairyhill Queen, was the unperturbed last. The donkey derby is a donkey race with men trying to manoever their mostly uncooperative donkeys toward the finish line. Who knows who won that!

Martin Fitzgerald deserves great thanks for chairing the committee that organized the show, while Catherine Prendergast, owner of Windy Isles Farm where the show was held, was a wonderful host!

This event should be on everyone’s calendar for next year!!

The Conne-accident and his mother, Fairyhill Queen

People camped out for days to see the show.