The line up of Clifden judges was finalised at last night’s Council meeting. John Joe Bolton and Noel Sweeney will judge the morning classes in Ring one. Séan Stagg and Madeline Beckman will judge the afternoon classes in Ring one and Finola Nic an Iomaire and Fr. Christy McCormack will judge the morning classes in Ring two. Bridget Lee will act as reserve judge. It was agreed to allow Class two ponies compete at Clifden show on a trial basis for 2015. It was also announced that Emma Massingale will give a demonstration with her liberty team of Connemara ponies on Wednesday afternoon of show week. The financial statements for the year ended 31/12/14 were approved by the Council. In a short visit to the Council meeting auditor John Kenny outlined the accounts and answered queries. Encouragingly forty one new members were accepted by the Council. The education committee is organising a series of clinics in the showgrounds for ridden ponies in conjunction with Judy Cazabon over the Summer. An art exhibition of Connemara ponies is being organised by the marketing committee during show week and a calendar of prints will be published. The marketing committee is also organising a stand at this year’s ploughing championships and will involve the Midlands Breeder Group, the South Eastern Breeder Group and the Southern Breeder Group at the stand. Jerry Mahon informed the Council that the proposed amendments to the Memorandum and Articles have been submitted to Revenue and once approved by Revenue a date will be set for the EGM. The Memorandum and Articles committee will continue its work over the coming weeks drafting various documents to support the Memorandum and Articles. The CPBS intends to link up with Endurance Ireland in encouraging long distance riding for its members. It is hoped to organise an information evening on the sport in the Midlands in the near future. Endurance was the quality above all others that was associated with the ponies in earlier days and it will be interesting to see how the Connemara pony of today compares with the Arabians that dominate the sport today. For those who haven’t the courage to take on the fences or those without the patience for dressage it just might be an option.