Kildysart celebrated its 75th anniversary this year. Always one of the best catalogues produced each summer, Kildysart’s featured extra photos of past exhibitors, an article on Cailin Deas - the very first two-year-old All Ireland champion here - and an entry form for a free show day draw with prizes including a flatscreen television, dinner and gift vouchers.

Amongst the crowd was 90-years-young John McGoldrick. The local man’s name was amongst the winners recorded on a sign placed beside a replica of a stone wall fence, once a feature of agricultural shows.

“I won it in 1959 and 1963” said John, who competed around the western shows. Bringing tractor loads of horses to Ballinasloe, borrowing saddles to compete in jumping classes and beating Dundrum on one famous occasion, (“but Tommy Wade wasn’t riding him that day”) were some of the highlights recalled by this sharp-as-a-tack character, who can name every winner since the Kildysart competition first began in 1942.

THRILLING FILLY FINAL

Rachel Bennett-Hamilton and Michael Lyons had a dozen two-year-old fillies to select their All Ireland champion from at Kildysart, where they opted for Dan O’Connor’s Newmarket Rolo, shown by Brian Daly.

His father Billy stands the winning sire Newmarket Venture at their Scarteen Stud in north Cork and she qualified on her first day out this summer at Newmarket-on-Fergus.

Dan Ryan last tasted All Ireland success back in the 1980s with his Leabeg filly foal champion and the Glenaguile man, who will be following Could Be Anything, bred by son Michael, in the Dublin five-year-old classes with Liam O’Meara, was delighted.

Another Dublin entry, the third-placed Ballykelly Eva couldn’t quite match the All Ireland success of her stable companion Ballykelly Empress who won here in 2014 for their owner-breeder Margaret Jeffares, while Mary Murphy brought the turnout prize to Mayo.

Another Mayo raider Tiernan Gill had a memorable day in the young horse classes, one of the richest championships on the circuit thanks to Dublin Coach, Coast To Coast Insulation and Talty’s Stores.

He struck with his and Felim Clarke’s Flogas Liqueur, a three-year-old Barnaby Flight filly. Judges Tim Carey and Gary Guyatt opted for another filly, Michael Slattery’s Clarehall Kannan Ball as their reserve.

Her owner confirmed that Clarecastle Show, which will feature the All Ireland colt foal final will now run on Sunday, September 17th.

More Banner County champions included Brendan & Aidan O’Sullivan’s broodmare Cranny Miss Lancelot (by Lancelot) and Denis McGrath’s Denounce foal in the Liam Cotter and Aidan Ryan-judged breedingstock classes.

Agricultural shows have changed considerably in 75 years and one worrying feature last Saturday was the fact that there were more donkey entries than in some young horse classes.

It has been ongoing at many shows this summer, with some running just three young stock classes. Lack of help, cost, older exhibitors are some of the theories put forward to explain the drop in support.

JUDGE’S COMMENT

“She had power, scope and size and showed an athletic gear change when required. We must at all times remain cognisant of the commercial aspect of our winners as judges. Could I push the boundaries and perhaps say the most valuable product in today’s demanding commercial market should be the winner.” Michael Lyons.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “You can’t buy days like this!” A delighted Dan Ryan.

INFO

ALL IRELAND TWO-YEAR-OLD FILLY FINAL

(Horse Sport Ireland showing championship series)

Sponsors - Clare Oil, Banner Contractors and Kildysart Show Society.

Judges - Rachel Bennett-Hamilton and Michael Lyons.

Number of finalists - 12.

Results

Champion

Dan O’Connor’s Newmarket Rolo, by Newmarket Venture - Newmarket Bouncer, by Mermus R. Breeder: Billy Daly, Newmarket.

Reserve

Dan Ryan’s Cronovone Miss Harry, by Harlequin Du Carel - Colourfield Lady, by Colourfield. Breeder: James Ryan, Borrisoleigh.

Third

Margaret Jeffares’s Ballykelly Eva, by O.B.O.S Quality - Corrib Eva, by Salluceva. Breeder: Owner.

Best-turned-out

Mary Murphy’s Stuck In A Moment, by Near Dock - Oldcastle Rose, by Clonakilty Hero. Breeder: Martin Murphy.