After two years the show scene was back in full swing in 2022. Red rosettes and championship sashes were gathered from the local pony class to the Sean Jones-bred View Point’s supreme title at the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS), sales were made and friendships rekindled over a ringside cup of tea.
The Department of Community and Rural Development funding, plus Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) breeding grants provided a financial reboot for agricultural shows.
Arva Show’s Raymond Brady succeeded Irish Shows Association (ISA) president Catherine Gallagher and there were countless golden moments throughout the summer.
It was the year that several show queens retired at the top, including Patrick Wafer’s all-conquering Parkmore Evita and Seamus Sloyan’s triple crown winner Elm View.
On the other human side, the election of Ireland’s youngest show secretary Colin Doyle, and Tiernan Gill’s delight when his son Alex pipped him in the Louisburgh young horse championship, were ‘next generation highlights.
Looking back through the season’s albums, many highlights shine through.
That group shot of Team Ruttle at Charleville - Joan Ruttle could have bought an air fryer or any other lockdown fad, instead she bought Harlequin Charm and qualified her for the Breeders Championship; the pride on Bernard Killeen’s face whilst leading Edel Curtin’s horses; the electric atmosphere of the big ring in Bannow before the ‘off’ in the All Ireland three-year-old final.
Then there was Gleann Rua Da Vinci, William and Grace McMahon’s home-bred supreme champion hunter, pictured at the first agricultural show outing at Athenry.
There’s thousands more. Here’s a small selection with one whittled down as my Photo of the Year and the summer’s Outstanding Show. See you ringside next year!
Photo of the year
No need for any ‘explanation’. Just look at the joy on Frances and Barbara Hatton’s faces after their Gibeon brought the Croker Cup to Slyguff Stud.
Show of the year
If there was one show that read the ‘Opportunity to Redesign Showing’ memo during the two-year COVID-19 layoff, it was Clarecastle. It bounced back in July with an imaginative format, free admission and classy finishing touches.