The 2016 agricultural show season sprang into action over the May bank holiday with Newmarket on Fergus and Thomastown taking place on the opening weekend. As reported in last week’s The Irish Horse, Paddy O’Donnell found his young horse champion in Brian Cleary’s as yet unnamed three-year-old filly (s. Loughehoe Guy) who had a walkover in her her class. Standing reserve to her was another filly in Tiernan Gill’s two-year-old Greenall Liqueur (s. Barnaby Flight) bought by her Ballina owner at Dublin last year where the Derry Rothwell-bred was the yearling champion for then-owners Ann & Willie Lyons.

Other challengers included Kevin Bermingham’s by Future Trend and PJ Meere’s OBOS Quality filly from the yearlings; Shane Slattery’s Kief Reuben (Robin de la Maison) who won the 2014 Gain Feeds All Ireland colt foal champion for breeder Kieran Fahey and PJ Glynn’s homebred Crannghmore Golden Boy (Near Dock).

Ridden horse

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Ridden horse winners at Newmarket-on-Fergus, which has a new chairperson in the multi-tasking Trish Hassett, included Aidan Ryan’s open hunter Cluain Peata (Mr Clover); Grace Murphy’s small hunter Walter Mitty and Bill Bourns’ Cobs Your Uncle.

There were doubles in the Connemara section for Keith Marks, with his Correal Champion and Cumarfort Scopie Spartacus, and also for Melican family’s miniature champion and reserve; ELM Raise Your Banner and ELM Golden Hun Bun.

Lorna Twomey’s prolific mini champion Uppacott Xotica took the supreme pony championship and reserve was Melissa O’Connor’s Trewolla Truffles.

Over in Thomastown, where Joan Mahon is the new secretary, Margaret Jeffares and Judith Cowley won the young horse and broodmare titles with Ballykelly Flashdance (Gortfree Hero) and Cloneyhea Peas, while in the ridden horse section, Claire Connors’ Rehy I’m A Star (Harlequin du Carel) and Donald Mills’ Dunleckney Branigan (Crosstown Dancer) won the show and working hunter championships.