Chairman of the local NPS Area, Tony Bell, was very proud to announce recently that the main body of the NPS had once again agreed to award them one of the hotly contested, elite qualifiers, for the Bailey's Horse Feeds, Mountain and Moorland Supreme Ridden Competition at the Olympia, London International Horse Show to be held in December 2010.
With just 36 qualifiers across the whole of the UK, the award of this qualifier to the local area of the NPS, is a major vote of confidence in the quality of local M&M ponies and in the local NPS Area. It is the most exciting and prestigious qualifier to be awarded for local Mountain and Moorland ponies in Ireland and it provides a huge potential opportunity for another local pony to potentially compete at the highest level.
The winner of last year's championship, and the much sought after qualifying ticket, was Emma O'Toole, from Clifden, Co Galway, riding Henry O'Toole's Connemara pony, Cashel Bay Joe.
This combination made the long trip to London in December 2009 and successfully represented Ireland at the finals against all the top ponies in the UK. The Reserve Champion in the local qualifying competition has the opportunity to compete at the NPS National Summer Championship Show at Malvern for a wild-card place at the final. Last year the Reserve Champion rosette was awarded to another locally bred pony, Budore Saint David, ridden by Kathryn Curry.
The Olympia M&M Ridden competition commenced 32 years ago, in 1978. Since then the native Mountain and Moorland classes have increased in popularity to the point that native ponies now make up the largest of all showing entries at both small and major shows across the UK and are quickly becoming some of the largest classes at local shows now also.
The NPS local area shows cater for this demand by hosting a large range of M&M classes. The Olympia qualifier will once again be the highlight of the NPS Area 32's Summer Show, which will be held on Saturday 26th June 2010 at Knockagh View Equestrian Centre, Greenisland, Carrickfergus.
Top Judge Secured
The local committee area also delighted to have secured the services of high profile NPS Panel Judge, Mrs Jennie Seymour, from the Baverstock Stud in Wiltshire to judge the Olympia qualifier. Mrs Seymour, currently the President of The National Pony Society, is highly regarded as one of the top Mountain and Moorland judges. Her extensive Judging portfolio includes International appointments in France, New Zealand and South Africa. Jennie is no stranger to the London International Horse Show having judged the Olympia final on two previous occasions.
Important Rules and Membership Information for Competitors
Special conditions apply to the NPS/Baileys Horse Feeds M&M Supreme Ridden (Olympia) Pony of the Year Qualifiers that are very important for potential competitors to note.
Before entering Qualifying Rounds, owners must be Adult Showing Members of the National Pony Society in order to enter the competition.
The rider must show the owner's membership to the steward as the pony enters the ring for both the class and the championship. Only the Champion will qualify for the final at Olympia in December.
The qualifier is open to registered, pure-bred Mountain and Moorland stallions, mares and geldings five years old or over, registered in the main body of their respective Breed Society stud book.
Any pony that has already qualified for the final in the current year may not enter another qualifying round for this competition.
NPS Summer Show Classes
There will be five open ridden classes scheduled at the NPS Summer Show on 26th June 2010, which are likely to again attract strong competition both from local competitors and from mainland UK competitors.
Riders can be any age, except for stallions where the rider must be 11 years old or over at the 1st January in the current year when riding small breeds (Dartmoor, Exmoor, Shetland, Welsh A & B). For large Breeds (Connemara, Dales, Fell, Highland, New Forest, Welsh C & D) the riders of stallions must be 14 years old or over at the 1st January in the current year.

The five open ridden classes at the NPS Summer Show on 26th June 2010 will be:

Class 1 Class 2 Class 3 Class 4 Class 5
Dartmoor Welsh A New Forest Fell Welsh C
Exmoor Welsh B Connemara Highland Welsh D
Shetland Dales

The First and Second placed ponies in each of these classes will compete in the overall M&M Ridden Championship at the Show with the Champion being awarded the prestigious qualifier for the final at Olympia.
Full details of NPS Membership and Olympia rules are available from the National Pony Society website www.nationalponysociety.org.uk
The NPS Area 32 Summer Show schedule will be available shortly from the Secretary, Marie Bell 028 9337 8850 or by downloading from the website at www.npsarea32.co.uk.