Two classes of Connemaras competed in the Connemara breeding division in-hand classes at the June Upperville Colt and Horse Show. Catherine Mack was the judge. In the Connemara Mares, Eight and Under, first place went to Ridgetop Harriette (Aladdin’s Denver x *Cloud Shadows, by Windy Day), owned by Marynell Eyles and shown by Paula Moore. In second was Thurman Keepsake (Landgate Bluebeard x Tre Awain Sileach, by Tre Awain DeValera), owned by Barbara Byrd and shown by Mary McMillan. Third place went to Guthrie’s Bonnie China Blue (Landgate Bluebird x Balmullo’s Miss Lucy, by Concord River Roaringwater Bay) owned by Cynthia Polk and shown by David O’Flaherty.
In the Stallions and Geldings class, Eight and Under, winner was Ridgetop Windy City (Windy Isles x Greystone Echo's Megan, by Greystone McErrill) owned and shown by Karen McIntyre Welch. In second was Thurman Bramley (Landgate Bluebeard x Thurman Raven, by Aladdin's Admiral Byrd) owned by Barbara Byrd and shown by Mary McMillen. Third went to Blue Ridge Conor Larkin (Moxley Duncan x *Hayselden Persephone, by Hayselden Bacchus), owned by Judy Brescia and shown by Kristen Noggle. Champion of the Connemara Breeding Division was Ridgetop Windy City with Thurman Bramley in reserve.
There were also four ridden classes, an under saddle and a hunter hack for purebreds, and an under saddle and hunter hack for Connemara sport horses.” The latter classes included either purebreds or half-bred Connemaras. In the Purebred Under Saddle, Ridgetop Windy City was in first place, Thurman Keepsake in second, and Cady O’Daly Silver & Gold (Tre Awain Goldsmith x Ridgetop Cady O’Daly), ridden by owner Penny Korb, in third.
In the Purebred Hunter Hack, Thurman Bramley was first, Ridgetop Windy City second and Blue Ridge Conor Larkin third. The Sport Horse Under Saddle class was the largest of the day with 11 entries and some new faces in the ribbons. In first was Ridgetop Columbine, a Connemara/Thoroughbred-cross by Aladdin’s Denver, owned by Marynell Eyles and ridden by Paula Moore. Second was Blue Ridge Conor Larkin, a purebred, while third place went to My Girl, a Connemara/Welsh by *Bobby Brown, owned by Lisa Nimick and ridden by Elianne Carroll. In the Connemara Sport Horse Hunter Hack Ridgetop Columbine was in first and *Kilfenora Rosie O’Day (Windy Day x Kilfenora Rose), an imported purebred owned by Denise Hill ridden by Lauren Hill, was in second. In third was Thurman Bramley. A complete report will appear in the next issue of the American Connemara.