Spancilhill based 11-year-old Jack Conlon-Gateau had a good weekend at the 2017 National Pony Championships held at Coilog Equestrian Centre in Kildare recently.
On the Saturday Jack and his pony “Gateau Miss Delta” took the runner up spot in the prestigious Young Pony Discovery Championships in the 128 section and claimed the 3rd spot with another pony ‘Sweet Lily’. Jack also took 6th place with another pony “Millie” (featured in picture) in a separate category, the 138 National Pony League Final.
Jack said: “I was proud to qualify and represent Clare and the Munster region at the National Championships in Kildare last weekend and was delighted with how my ponies performed.
It was so exciting to jump at the National Championships this year and it was great to win three rosettes and to come so close with that 2nd place with Delta. The standard at the National Championships is really tough, but because the standard of competition in Clare is so high it really helps getting you and your ponies ready.”
The next competition for Jack and Gateau Stables is the upcoming Young Pony National Championships in Portmore in county Down in 2 weeks’ time where he has more ponies qualified. With a bit of luck there could be more rosettes on the way back to Spancilhill.