25/02/2026
IN-HAND JUDGES DRAW | 27th February🐴
📍 Live Broadcast
📅 Friday 27th February
⏰ 8:00 PM
📱 Facebook Live
JUDGES SELECTION COMMITTEE
In preparation for the 2026 Show, an independent Judges Selection Committee, external to the Show Committee, has been established.
The members of this committee are:
* Denise Norton
* Liam Cotter
* Nicola Musgrave
The Selection Committee has invited all approved judges on the current CPBS Judges’ List to put their name forward for consideration in the selection of in-hand judges.
Furthermore, the International Committee of Connemara Pony Societies has been approached to furnish the committee with a list of international judges.
In line with long-standing protocols historically applied to judge selection for the Clifden Show, judges who officiated at Clifden in the last three years (i.e. 2023, 2024, and 2025) were deemed ineligible for this selection process.
There has been a very strong response rate and we thank all judges, who have formally confirmed their interest.
DRAW METHODOLOGY
The Selection Committee has confirmed that the selection methodology will be an open draw from three groups i.e:
* International
* Galway-based (over 50% of the judges on the CPBS panel are located in Co. Galway)
* Rest of Country
With the following conditions:
* 2 judges will be selected from the pool of International judges
* 2 judges will be selected from the pool of Galway-based judges
* 2 judges will be selected from the pool of Rest-of-Ireland-based judges
A reserve list, made up of two judges from each group will also be drawn, from which the referee judge will be selected.
The pairing of in-hand judges and the allocation of these pairings to classes will take place at a later point:
* Youngstock in Ring 1 in the morning
* Foals, Geldings, 13.2 mares, Young Handlers and dry Mare classes in Ring 2
* Stallions and Broodmares in Ring 1 in the afternoon
Judges for ridden and performance classes will be confirmed and announced in the weeks ahead.
We thank all judges and patrons for their continued support as preparations continue for the 101st Connemara Pony Show in Clifden. The draw will take place on Friday evening 27th February at 8pm and will be broadcast on social media.
A representative from the Irish Shows Association will be in attendance. Tune in to be part of this year's draw. Play back will be posted on our channels after the live stream has taken place.
