Showing

Susan Finnerty

With the agricultural show season entering the home stretch, two more Irish Shows Association finals were decided at Mountbellew where Michael Dooner won his second traditional foal title.

The Athlone exhibitor, who celebrated his 80th birthday this year with a gathering of his many showing friends, took the title again with his Loughehoe Guy colt out of Vanity Fayre. The same Dunkerrin Grey Mist dam produced Dooner’s 2008 champion at Mountbellew, a full-sister to his current champion.

All Ireland replays are the buzzword after Croke Park’s cliffhanger and last Saturday’s opening colt foal final, sponsored by the Malthouse Bar & Restaurant and Briggs Fashions, proved to be a rematch of the 2008 foal final.

Another Athlone exhibitor Pat Lennon took second from the half-dozen finalists with his Watermill Swatch colt, a full-brother to his 2008 All-Ireland Mountbellew champion.

That winner was sold to Oli Townend and Nina Barbour, while this year’s colt was bought at Moate Show by Dessie Gibson.

FILLY FINAL

In the following St Anns Restaurant and Ganlys-sponsored filly final, which attracted nine contenders, it was a win for John Roche’s Kings Master filly out of UK producer Katie Jerram’s ex-HOYS campaigner Travelling Solo, who also won the broodmare championship.

Standing reserve champion here was another longtime exhibitor Tom Newell with his Financial Reward filly out of Kilcahill Diamond, herself the 2010 All Ireland champion at Moate.

In the head-to-head decider for their overall champion, judges Rachel Bennett-Hamilton and Maura Rooney opted for Dooner’s colt with Roche’s filly as reserve. While pleased with the standard at the top end of their line-up in both finals, part of Horse Sport Ireland national showing championship series, Rachel expressed concern over the lack of correct limbs and stressed the importance of retaining traditional bloodlines.

More Mountbellew champions included John Burke, who also had a Mountbellew double as the Tuam owner won the warmblood championship for a second year, this time with a Goodluck VDL colt and Pat Hoare who won the Irish Draught mare championship with his Moylough Ruby (Welcome Flagmount).