Dana Norquist and Foothills Waterman, winners of the Novice Combined Test

Middleburg, VA: It WAS very hot but a cool breeze blew though Glenwood Park to keep the showgrounds comfortable for the annual Region III Connemara Show last weekend. This show has now been held in or around Middleburg for twenty some years, and although attendance was down in the in-hand classes, the performance classes were filled to overflowing!! And the participants in the costume class outdid themselves. The Champion in Hand, called in Region III The Best Connemara of the Day, was Four Lochs Wind in the Willows, a lovely mare by Landgate Bluebeard owned and shown by Alice Maley. She had been the winner of the 3-7 Year- Old Mares. The winner of the Older Mares was Ridgetop Hazy Blue, also by Bluebeard. She is owned and was shown by Jill McNichol who had traveled from Ohio for the show. The Best Halfbred of the Day was Sycamore Ridge Easter Lily, owned by Petrina Thomas and shown by Caroline Shipe. In the Performance classes there were many winners…in the Combined Tests at four levels of increasing difficulty winners were Chesapeake Bay, owned and ridden by Alexandra Duckworth, Grey Haven Padraig McDaire, owned and ridden by Stephanie Burke, Foothill's Waterman, owned and ridden by Dana Norquist, and Loughin's Journey, owned and ridden by Martha Slammer. In the Open Halfbred Division, Sycamore Ridge Easter Lily, ridden by Caroline Shipe, was again the champion with Tupelo Honey, owned and ridden by Debby Bright, in Reserve. In the Open Purebred Connemara Division, Kent's Baron von Strudel, owned by Sam Davis and ridden by Christine Ehlers, was the Champion with Sycamore Ridge Eve, owned by Traci and Brian Sandberg and ridden by Ivy Sandberg in Reserve. In the leadline and costume classes of course everyone was a winner!! Other winners, from 5 years old to 75 years old, from individuals showing for the first time to experienced competitors, are too many to mention, but will be noted in the next issue of the American Connemara.

Entrants in the costume class outdid themselves!

Darian Hall shows Foothill's Foggy Morning In-Hand, Purebred Fillies and Mares Three-Years-Old and Over.

Paso Robles, CA: Joanie Webster has kindly sent this report of the 2010 West Coast Connemara Show. "The Annual West Coast Connemara Show, dedicated in Memory of Larry Ervin, was held for the second consecutive year at Twin Rivers Ranch in Paso Robles, California. Chris Knox, from Chesterfield, ID, was the USEF Connemara licensed Breed and Performance judge. Forty six Connemara ponies along with some 'open' horses vied for ribbons in the three-day show of 80 classes, leading up to the presentation of six Division Championships and 13 Perpetual Trophies! Traditionally hot summer daytime temperatures were bearable, and the evenings were quite cool and refreshing for ponies/horses and riders.

"This was a second USEF recognized show and Lee Webster, Organizer, received significant and welcome guidance from the USEF Competitions Department in producing the Prize List posted on the show web site, www.westcoastconnemarashow.com. Please take a look! Also, for the second year, the custom web site offered ACPS Region X members constant updates relative to all facets of show planning, preparation and participation. And, because interested members voted in a regional survey to engage a professional Horse Show Secretary for this year's show, the well-known Nancy Nathanson took on the responsibility for coordinating all aspects of USEF required record-keeping. WOW! Was that a good decision! With the added help and expertise of Victor Ramensky, the accurate score-keeping needed to complete the horse show records was right on! Projected schedules were met!

Kristen Enedy riding her Connemara stallion, Tullymor's Mountain Knight, Level 3 Jumpers, 3'6".

"A maximum day of dressage rides (8 hours of judging), went smoothly with 66 scheduled rides on Friday. Saturday consisted of the In-Hand Breed classes and the three Connemara Hunter Divisions. Riders Ten and Under classes and the fun/games classes for all ages, made up the late afternoon 'Celtic Caper!' Lee Webster and Victor Ramensky hosted a complimentary Wine and Cheese Party Saturday evening prior to a delicious competitor's barbeque dinner. Sunday was a big day, too, with 'Open' Performance, featuring Jumpers and Trail classes. Sunday's grand finale was The Inaugural Larry Ervin Memorial Irish Derby! A beautiful new trophy to honor Larry was donated by Darian and Allen Hall of Rosewood Farm Connemaras.

Lee Webster and Stonybrook Belmont splash through the "Irish Derby" water obstacle.

Using the guidelines prepared by seasoned eventers, Kristen Enedy and Megan Lepper, who ride for the Halls, the Irish Derby came into being and proved to be a hugely popular new addition to the show schedule. The ultimate winner, Lee Webster riding Stonybrook Belmont, posted the best score derived from one dressage test and fewest penalty points from a course designed with both show jumping fences and flagged cross-country obstacles. Enthusiastic riders benefitted from the use of quality stadium fences and cross-country obstacles provided by Twin Rivers Ranch, host for large USEF/USEA West Coast Horse Trials throughout the show season, as well as an International Three-Day Event every September!

"Concluding the show was a much-anticipated and delightful Awards Ceremony where Division Champions and Perpetual Trophy winners were called forward to accept their honors. Throughout the three days of competition, there were magic moments, outstanding camaraderie and fond memories created for all! More details, including show results for In-Hand Champions, Division Champions, all Perpetual Trophy winners and class placings, will appear in the September/October issue of the American Connemara magazine."

All photos credited to Tass Jones Photography.

Kate Shields and "Hastening Lily", winner of the Connemara Halfbred in Hand class

Warrenton, VA: Marilyn Cheek reports that, "We were thrilled to have seven halfbreds and one purebred competing in the Connemara Divisions at the Warrenton Pony Show this year, including several new entries we hope will become regulars. All seven halfbreds entered the Connemara Halfbred In Hand class, which Kate Shields and her Hastening Lilly won.

In the performance classes, six entered the Connemara Halfbred Hunter Under Saddle class, five competed in the Halfbred Bridle Path Hack, a hunter hack class with two fences, and four vied for the halfbred performance championship in the final Halfbred Hunter Over Fences class, with a course of 8 fences set at 2'6".

The 'final four' were Talari's Junior McVai owned and ridden by Riley Moore of Culpeper, VA, who won the championship; Indian Summer's Shamus, owned and ridden by Liz Dyke of Millwood, VA, who was reserve; Sycamore Ridge Easter Lily, owned by Petrina Thomas and ridden by Rachel Weaver, both of Culpeper, and Sycamore Ridge Irish Lace, owned by Sycamore Ridge Farm and ridden by Justine Weaver.

Riley and Junior , who were reserve performance champions at Warrenton last year, won the Halfbred Championship. Here they are accepting the Sycamore Ridge Farm Perpetual Trophy and other prizes from Marilyn Cheek and one of the WPS Junior Committee Members.

"There was only one purebred entered, Glenmeadow's Golden Wish, owned and handled by Kim Harrison, who naturally won the Purebred in Hand class. Although a little frisky on the line, the 3-year-old went on to demonstrate his wonderful Connemara temperament by appearing as a NACSAR racing machine bedecked in logos in the Costume Class."

Windsor, CA: Darian Hall of Rosewood Farm reports that, "On Sunday, July 25, our cross bred 4-yr-old gelding, Rosewood Glow (MGRM Brigadoon X Hey Jewel), went to his first show. He spent some 'oh hum' time seeing the sights and was entered in two jumping classes. On his first course he stopped at the first fence to smell the flowers. One refusal. He then went on to do a perfect round to get a 5th place. In his next class he did everything perfectly and got the blue ribbon!"