Welcome to the Finnish Connemara Pony Society Website!   Connemara Ponies have been shown in two shows in Finland this summer. The latter show was the National all breeds' show in Helsinki. Connemaras were shown in their own ring for a British judge, Mr Malcom Fry. He chose six-year-old mare Coneridge Kathleen (Innellan Kestrel - Kate - Killyreagh Kim) as the best pony of the breed. As the Junior Champion Mr Fry chose yearling filly Fieldhill Bene Bettina (Dale Mountain Mist - Eternal Amity - Symphatil Hazy Becks), and the best young pony of the opposite sex was Symphatil O'Neill (Symphatil Hazy Becks - Irish Dream - Öxenholm Marble Jr). The best foal was filly Rockfield Eternity (Calvin Klein - Rockfiled Scaramé - Kåsta Scaramouche), the best veteran mare Downhill Dewdrop (Kåsta Scaramouche - Aramara Audrey Grey - Millfields Ensign) and the best gelding Ohana Andromera (Rockfield McBurney - Aramara Eliza - Ardnasillagh O'Flaherty). The Supreme Champion from the Connemara breed show in Tampere in July, Woolpacks Sweetie Pie (Janus - Bolle Cornette - Lukas) was this time placed 2nd in her class to Coneridge Kathleen. Please read more about the breed show in Tampere earlier in July on the ICCPS website.   PoniBreeders 2010 contest for 5 to 6-year old ponies will take place in Hämeenlinna 28th-29th August. More information on the Breeders' website. Quality Pony Contest 2010 will take place in Loimaa, 18th-19th September. Both contests are aimed for pure bred young ponies.   Society has new, flashy T-shirts for sale! Green and black, for men, women and children, the price of the shirts ranges from 12 to 20 euros. The front of the shirt carries the Society logo, while the website address is printed on the back. Interested? Please contact the society president for more info.   Connemara Cup 2010 standings 20th May: 1. Woolpacks Sweetie Pie 212 IC - Hanna Koli 100 p. 2. Merryhill's Samwise - Hilla Turtiainen 40 p. 3. Rockfield Honesty - Hanna Koli 40 p. 3. Rockfield Wizard - Saara Jussila 40 p. 5. Streamside Beverley - Tiina Sinisalo 20 p. 6. Banks Cadeau - Hanna Koli 10 p.   Stallion Inspections took place rather late this year, the third weekend of April. Five Connemara Ponies were entered, but only one returned home with a permission to cover mares. Halle Lafferty, a successful show pony the past couple of years, was awarded 1st Premium and permission for the next three years. The three-year-old is by Coosheen Finbarr (thus third Finbarr son to be approved within a month!) out of Lofty Hazy Rambler (Frederiksminde Hazy Chance), Best In Show in Swedish Connemara Pony Show 2006. Congratulations to breeder Ingrid Hallengård and owner Susanna Rahikainen!   Golddigger Laddie 9 C, a stallion born and bred in Finland, arrived in Ireland on Christmas Eve 2009 and is now serving mares at Coilltedubh Stud in Co. Kildare during the 2010 season. Laddie also participated in the 2010 Stallion Parade in Clifden, being the first Finnish bred pony ever in the Clifden ring.   Finnish Connemara Pony Society AGM took place 14th March in Kouvola. A new president was chosen, and the upcoming year Satu Pitkänen will do the honours. The other three new council members are Mirka Jantunen, Merja Nurmi ja Carina Stenbacka. The best ponies in Connemara Cup were awarded, and a special prize was given to recently passed mare Caragh Eager Eileen 120 C, whose progeny has been participating and being successful in Connemara Cup for years.   The Finnish Connemara Pony Society arranges a Cup Competition each year for Connemara Pony riders regardless of age - The Connemara Cup. Points are awarded for any discipline, as long as the pony has reached the finishing line and is not disqualified. The higher the level, the more points scored. Connemara Cup winner 2009 is Swedish born mare Ulricedahls Tekla with Juuli Suominen. 2nd prize goes to the same pair as last year - mare Streamside Nuphar - Susanna Honkala. Third place has beed divided between three ponies: Eternal Flake - Jenni Finér, Caragh Caithleen - Hilla Turtiainen and Woolpacks Sweetie Pie - Hanna Koli Altogether 18 ponies were enterd to the competition. All results for 2009  Finnish bred colt Caragh Gaoithe has been exported to Canada to pursue a career as a breeding stallion. Gaoithe's sire Innellan Kestrel has been a popular stallion in Europe and his son will hopefully be sought after in North America. See Elphin Farms website for more information.  Irish bred stallion Coosheen Finnegan has been imported to Finland and has participated in his first show jumping competitions. Finnegan has previously been covering mares in Denmark and Norway.