In a final of firsts, Rebecca Monahan’s Notalot became the first filly to win a historic Galway Crystal/Belleek Pottery All-Ireland final at Bannow and Rathangan last Thursday. The first of the Irish Shows Association championships for the 2015 season, this three-year-old final is also part of Horse Sport Ireland’s showing series.

Eighteen other contenders went before judges Timmy Wilson and All-Ireland final debut judge Tiernan Gill, however, Notalot stayed top of their lineup. Bred in West Clare by Jim Wallace, this was the second All-Ireland championship victory for the Dublin-winning filly, having already won the yearling title at Scariff.

“She just had the wow factor from the minute she walked in the ring,” Wilson remarked about Notalot, who is on the market.

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Standing reserve was Seamus Lehane’s consistent winner Ballard Wise Guy (Loughehoe Guy), bought as a foal from the Irish Farmers Journal classifieds. Next in line was Pat Martin and Dorothy Walsh’s recent Royal Highland Show champion, Imperial Choice (Emperor Augustus), with David Alcorn showing Dessie Gibson’s Balmoral young horse champion, Ducketts Grove (Golden Master), to take fourth. It was good to see Gibson well on the road to recovery after his accident and among the spectators.

Fifth place went to Margaret Jeffares’s homebred Ballykelly Empress, a full-sister to the 2013 All-Ireland champion Ballykelly Emperor, (Emperor Augustus). In sixth place was Michael and Rachel Lyons’s Kilmastulla Newmarket Spartacus (Newmarket Venture).

One of last year’s final prizewinners, Laura Kelly’s Marley And Me (Kings Master) was Aidan Ryan’s ridden horse champion, with the Tipperary producer praising the four-year-old gelding’s temperament. Daphne Tierney’s heavyweight winner Bloomfield Incognito (Alda Cruise) stood reserve.

Breeders’ Championship

Renewed interest in the RDS Breeders’ Championship this summer, saw 13 hopefuls vie for the last three places at this superbly-run Wexford show’s qualifier. Continuing her winning streak since Charleville was PJ Lehane’s PJ’s Dream (Lux Z), who is also the broodmare champion, and with her Munther colt topped Philip Copithorne and Claire Oakes Breeders’ Championship qualifier.

Also through are JJ Bowe’s Porters Ghareeb (Porter Rhodes) with a Dilshaan colt and Patrick Wafer’s Parkmore Evita (Ghareeb) with her Robin De La Maison filly, with this collector’s item filly also taking the foal championship.

More Bannow champions include John Roche’s Assagart Velvet (young horse); a double for Siani Blanchfield with Mr Boscovitz (intermediate) and Shannonbay Star (working hunter pony); Nesta Fitzgerald’s Brandon Brief Encounter (show hunter); and Barossa Stud’s dual champion Barossa Heiress (youngstock and in-hand).