Siobhan Madden had substantial shoes to fill as the judge for the All-Ireland young show person championship at Dunmanway Show on Sunday. This innovative class, intended to encourage the next generation of exhibitors, was judged last year by the late Liam Meade. However, she did a superb job sorting through a large field of 19 hopefuls with Horse Sport Ireland’s increased funding proving another incentive.

Repeating his 2014 win in this final was 16-year-old Brian O’Neill from Clonakilty, a town that has already produced a number of gifted showmen. He showed the former Irish Farmers Journal Limerick Lady champion Kilnagross Isabelle, borrowed from local vet Michael McCarthy, who is in the same practice as Brian’s father, John.

Taking second place was Aidan Williamson, whose experience showing his team of show ponies also shone through. In third place was Nicola McCarthy from Bandon.

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Completing the top six results were Athlone brothers Darragh (fourth) and Lorcan Glynn (sixth) with Jessie Murphy in fifth.

HSI chair Pat Wall was delighted with the turnout for this final and welcomed the prize money boost through the Department of Agriculture’s sport horse industry innovation scheme.

Other Dunmanway champions included the Lehane cousins with PJ winning the broodmare championship with his PJ’s Dream (Lux Z), while Seamus won the young horse championship with Ballard Wise Guy (Loughehoe Guy).

Rosemarie Deasy’s Watermill Swatch colt won the foal championship with Patrick O’Sullivan’s West Coast Cavalier filly in reserve and Gwen Murphy’s purebred Irish Draught mare Cullinagh Mullarkey Pearl (Mountain Pearl) upgraded herself from last year’s ridden horse reserve championship to take this year’s title.

Mary Carpenter’s Leap Rascal (Barrera Duke Of Windsor) won the ridden pony championship and Dermot Horgan’s Renelles Royal Enchantment (Stanley Grange Royal Appointment) took the in-hand pony tricolour.