SHOWING

Susan Finnerty

Five ISA All-Ireland champions were crowned at Ballinasloe Showgrounds last Saturday when alternative arrangements were made for these finals, normally held at the agricultural show, which has been cancelled this year.

Unfortunately, the weather gods didn't oblige with the opening Ballinasloe Connemara Pony Owners & Fr Christy McCormack-sponsored two-year-old filly final held in a downpour, but the Walsh family still smiled in the rain. Rachel and Kevin had clubbed together to buy Moyabbey Twilight (Glencarrig Patrick) from their father Tony with their first communion and confirmation money and their purchase was Clare Oakes champion. Dolores O’Brien’s Lankhill Dunky (Dunally Lad) was reserve champion from eight contenders.

In the Horse Sport Ireland Irish Draught finals, Valerie Davis and Denis Dullea’s overall champion for the Pat Carty Cup was John Bracken’s Scrapman filly. Produced by Joanne Maguire for her Offaly owner to win at Dublin, she has been sold to John Whiteley in Yorkshire and stood top of the filly final ahead of Tom Burke’s entry by his own Castlegar Finn Grove.

Burke still had a contender in the overall championship as he had won the opening colt class with another entry by his Fintan Himself-owned son ahead of John McHugh’s reserve colt champion by Inishfree The Holy Grail.

Donkeys and their patient owners then took centre stage for the Gerry Stronge & John Harney-sponsored final which had a 100% attendance rate by the 14 finalists. The Cochrane family’s long journey from Castlewellan paid off when their mare Dolly was Denis Feehily’s champion and Martin Joe Kelly’s Lady Dolly stood reserve.

colt foal

The numbers were not as high for the closing final, the Ballinasloe Businesses colt foal championship, with 18 out of a possible 32 qualified foals lining out. However, Liam Cotter and Tim Hurley were pleased with the standard and selected John Burke’s Good Luck VDL colt out of an OBOS Quality dam as their champion.

Standing reserve was Michael Dooner’s Loughehoe Guy colt, the All-Ireland traditional foal champion at Mountbellew the previous weekend. Third place went to the founding secretary of the West Cork Horse Breeders co-op, Tim Holland, and his foal O Boss (OBOS Quality). Holland bred the foal who is out of a Presenting mare, who he also owns.

Again, there appears to be a good demand for quality foals with several moving to new homes after Ballinasloe, including the champion, bought by Ambrose Irwin.

Another final held at Ballinasloe was the Martin Conneely championship, in honour of Annaghdown Star’s breeder. Judged by Anthony Gordon and Patricia Hoey on a 60/40 basis for Irish Draught foals and mares, it was won by Tom Burke’s Castlegar Finn Grove filly and her Welcome Flagmount dam. Taking reserve was John Bracken’s Scrapman filly and Ballinrobe Boy dam combination.