Woodstock VT: The Region I show had perfect weather and a good turnout at the Green Mountain Horse Association show grounds on July 31 and Aug 1. Champion in Hand was Tower Hill's Carmody, age 17, by *Chiltern Copa X Tower Hills Glendalough ( by Whitewood Galway Bay). She is owned by Sally Oxnard and leased by Julia Latham, age 9.

They also won both the walk trot pleasure and walk trot equitation.

The judge was Fran O'Reilly.

Tower Hill's Carmody and Julie Latham

Smyrna, DE: Kim Stover and her Connemara/Thoroughbred gelding, Tricreek Greystone Laughlin, have been selected to represent the United States at the World Singles Driving Competition in Italy. He just won his division at the Garden State CDE and has been competing consistently at selection trials. You can read more about this pair at http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=5890

Plant City, FL: Beth Davidson wrote to say that Black Dog's River Ghost aka Toby competed at a schooling dressage show in Plant City, Florida on July 17. He was the High Point Pony (67.5%) as well as the Introductory Champion. He is a 2007 pony by Seven Hill's Grey Ghost and out of Swift Ocoee River. Toby is now at his new home with Hunter Guynn, age 12, to compete in dressage and over fences. Hunter won the 4-H Florida State Introductory Dressage in April 2010. Beth says, “We look forward to continued show success from this pair!”

Saskatoon, SK, Canada: Elsie Priddy writes that Rills Carrick Fergus with Rebecca David McIsaac up won the Jr. Open Novice C at the Event at Rebecca Farm in Montana. A few pictures of Fergus can be seen on Elsie’s website. http://elodon.sasktelwebsite.net/

Fayetteville, GA: Megan Harris writes with the following sad news.

“The legendary Connemara stallion, *Grange Finn Sparrow, was laid to rest on the hillside of his home, Swift Level Farm, in Lewisburg, WV, on August 4th. “Grange” was 35 years old.

Grange in the Clifden Ring, 1978.

Grange was bred by Lady Maria Levigne, and was born in Ireland in 1975 to the mare, Dun Sparrow, and was by the well known, Coosheen Finn. He was the 1978 in-hand Champion at Clifden, and went on to become a successful show jumper. He was twice named the Top Scoring Grade A Pony in Ireland. He came to the US in the 1980’s and made his mark as a sire of talented purebred and half-bred Connemaras. His offspring have followed him into the show jumping and hunter rings, share his passion for foxhunting, and have paved their own way in eventing and dressage. He even has a “grandson” that competed very successfully at the Preliminary level of combined driving.

Although his progeny have competed at the upper echelons of many equestrian sports, he most impacted the eventing world. He sired wonderful children’s ponies that took their small riders carefully around their first Beginner Novice course, to competitive contenders that were professionally ridden at the 2* and 3* levels. His half-bred son, Windswept, even made it to the Rolex ****. At least 11 of his offspring, and grand-offspring, have qualified for the 2010 American Eventing Championships, from Beginner Novice through the Intermediate level.

Grange was deeply loved by his human “family”, as well as his admirers; he will be greatly missed.