Looking forward to a great summer of showing, it’s not all about the winning – it’s enjoying and having a safe journey, meeting all our friends along the way.”

That was Clonaslee exhibitor John Cusack’s Facebook post at the start of the 2013 show season. And at the end of it, while also wondering what guise agricultural shows will have taken by another decade, it’s a worthy sentiment.

It has been a struggle without a doubt with exhibitors cutting back, youngstock sections attracting less than a dozen entries and show committees battling to attract members, sponsors and the gate-paying public away from electronic tablets and movies on a Sunday afternoon.

However, there were some bright spots with the July heatwave and Horse Sport Ireland’s welcome sponsorship of some All-Ireland finals. At the HSI breeding awards, Rosemary Connors’ Woodfield Valier won the top show mare award and Raymond Sloyan once again received the top Irish Draught show mare award for Elm View, owned by his nephew Seamus. Both mares were victorious at Dublin with Woodfield Valier landing both the Irish Field Breeders’ Championship and Coote Cup double.

Another home-bred in Hurst Show Team’s Tattygare Good To Go won the young horse title to add to her two All-Ireland titles. Another notable double was Jimmy Quinn’s Irish Draught stallion Cappa Cassanova earning a gold merit with his Dublin and All-Ireland title at Clonaslee.

Purebred Irish Draughts had a bumper Horse of the Year Show with two other Welcome Flagmount offspring, The Comedian and Hallmark IX (supreme horse champion), and Loughkeen Dancing Lord, by Crosstown Dancer, winning there. That win was a fitting tribute for Fintan Brannigan’s late Crosstown Dancer and another loss to the Irish Draught world in 2013 was Grosvenor Lad.

Showing also lost one of its greatest supporters when Tiernan Gill senior passed away in September. It became almost an annual custom on Fathers Day at Galway County Show to take a photograph of the Ballina gentleman and his son, Tiernan junior when one of their Flogas string took the top prize there.

And finally, some memorable moments from the summer:

Opening act: In a nice link between agricultural shows and show jumping, SJI national chairman Tony Hurley officially opened Bandon Show. He recalled well-known horses such as Carrolls Carrigroe and exhibitors Nat Galway-Greer, Michael Connors and Michael Leonard competing there. He also made a presentation to Betty Kingston who competed at the first Bandon Show, held 61 years ago.

Happy birthday: Belated birthday wishes to the Irish Shows Association’s national secretary and greatest asset, Michael Hughes, who celebrated a milestone birthday this year.

Next generation: With much speculation about the future of shows and judging, an encouraging sight was Sean O’Donovan who was drafted in to judge the ridden hunters at Bannow and Rathangan. The Kildalton College of Agriculture student is one for the future.

Likewise one of the year’s favourite photographs is of a beaming Grainne O’Leary who won one of the Charleville championships on her first showring outings with her little chesnut Casper, who leads the way out with the Duhallows.

Wise buy: One way to buy your future Dublin champions is through the Irish Farmers Journal classifieds section, as Seamus Lehane proved when winning the yearling title there with his Ballard Wise Guy, bought through an ad placed by Nenagh breeder Teresa Cairns.

The most famous donkey in Ireland: That would be Betsy, whose spirited lap of honour, with her foal and handlers, Timmy Foley and Seamus Lehane in tow, after winning the All-Ireland donkey final in Ballinasloe brought the 2013 show season to a light-hearted end.

Show of the year: Several particularly well-organised contenders this year including Limerick. With the addition of the Traditional Irish Horse Association Festival, Liam Meade’s meticulously prepared and Chris Ryan’s inimitable commentaries, the presence of 100-year-young Jack Powell and the continuation of the Gleeson family’s sponsorship of Pat’s beloved Irish Draughts, this was an exceptionally good show.

Limerick was just edged out by another Munster show, run by another of the proactive committee types that will keep their local show alive. With a wealth of rich history attached to show, shared by Dick Johnson and as much detail paid to the organisation of the leadrein classes as its Grand Prix, this two-day show brings traffic on the Cork-Dublin road to a halt with crowds flocking to support it. Take a bow, Charleville.

2013 ISA ALL IRELAND CHAMPIONS 2013

• AB Browne Oil filly foal: Moate – Tom Newell’s by Bahrain Cruise – Kilcahill Naomi, by Clover Brigade. Breeder: Owner.

• Gain Feeds colt foal Ballinasloe: Derry Rothwell’s by Mermus R – Greenhall Indicator, by Limmerick. Breeder: Owner.

•* Malthouse Restaurant, Briggs Fashions, Ganly’s of Mountbellew and St Ann’s Restaurant traditional sporthorse colt Mountbellew: Tom Clancy’s by Financial Reward – TC Miss Cruise, by Cruising. Breeder: Owner.

• Malthouse Restaurant, Briggs Fashions, Ganly’s of Mountbellew and St Ann’s Restaurant traditional sporthorse filly Mountbellew (and overall traditional foal champion): Pat & Mary Lennon’s by Watermill Swatch – Sulaafah Lady, by Sulaafah. Breeder: Owner.

• ISA/Carnew Show Society yearling colt/gelding Carnew: James McWeeney’s Tattygare Fantastic Mr Fox, by Porsch – Pink Daisy, by Be My Native. Breeder: Shirley Hurst.

•* Scariff Show Society yearling filly Scariff: Rebecca Monahan’s Notalot, by Lancelot – Clooneen Cavalier Countessa, by Cavalier Royale. Breeder: James Wallace.

• Red Mills two-year-old colt/gelding, Tinahely: Daphne Tierney’s by Power Blade – Paris Clover, by Paris Lights. Breeder: Herbie & Hazel Deacon.

•* Clare Oil, Abbey Contractors & Kildysart Show two-year-old filly: P.J. Lehane’s P.J’s Dream, by Lux Z – P.J’s Hope, by Big Sink Hope. Breeder: Owner.

•* Bannow & Rathangan Show Society/Belleek China/Galway Crystal three-year-old, Bannow & Rathangan: Margaret Jeffares’ Ballykelly Emperor, by Emperor Augustus – Debbie’s Clover, by Farney Clover. Breeder: Owner.

• Conoco Philips & Bantry Show Society three-year-old filly, Bantry: Hurst Show Team’s Tattygare Good To Go, by Porsch - Tattygare Golden Delight, by Euphemism. Breeder: Owner.

• Coolmore Stud “Search For A Star”, Castlewellan: Hurst Show Team’s Tattygare Good To Go, by Porsch - Tattygare Golden Delight, by Euphemism. Breeder: Owner.

• FBD/County Clare Show Society broodmare championship, Ennis: Kieran Fahey’s Madam Noir, by Kings Master – Mount Rose Furbell, by Nautlius. Breeder: Owner.

• Pegus Horse Feeds breeders championship, Bandon: Derry Rothwell’s Greenhall Indicator, by Limmerick – Greenhall Flowing River, by Weavers Web and c f by Mermus R. Breeder: Owner.

• Ardrahan Show Society ridden hunter, Ardrahan: Lyndsey & Tim O’Brien’s Mr Shakespeare, by Olympic Lux – Bright Ray, by Fast Frigate. Breeder: Bridget O’Donoghue.

IRISH DRAUGHTS

• Horse Sport Ireland colt foal, Ballinasloe: Seamus Duffy’s by Innishfree The Holy Grail - Moneenroe View, by Carrabawn View. Breeder: Owner.

• Horse Sport Ireland filly foal, Ballinasloe (and overall champion): Ann Rabbitte’s by Fintan Himself – Lecarrow Gypsie, by Castana. Breeder: Owner.

• Celtic Ross Hotel Munster colt foal championship, Bantry: Denis Dullea’s Killountain Cross, by Crosstown Dancer – Killountain Heather, by Crannagh Hero. Breeder: Owner.

• Hannon’s Hotel yearling filly, Roscommon: James Whyte’s Carrigrua The White Lady, by Holycross – Innishfree The White Lady, by Crannagh Hero. Breeder: Owner.

•* Gleeson Family two-year-old filly, Limerick: Liam Cotter’s Fintan’s Queen, by Fintan Himself – Castlegar Pet, by Grosvenor Lad. Breeder: Tom Burke.

• Diamond Coast Hotel three-year-old filly, Bonniconnolon: Seamus Sloyan’s Clew Bay Baroness, by Clew Bay Bouncer – Ballintaffy Lady, by Grosvenor Lad. Breeder: Tom Burke.

•* Horse Sport Ireland & Leitrim Irish Draught Breeders championship, Mohill: Seamus Sloyan’s Elm View, by Elm Hill and f f by Fast Silver. Breeder: Raymond Sloyan.

• Horse Sport Ireland stallion, Clonaslee: Jimmy Quinn’s Cappa Cassanova, by Welcome Flagmount – Headford Beauty. Breeder: Seamus Leahy.

• Ardrahan Show Society ridden Irish Draught championship, Ardrahan: Maria McNamara’s Shanbally Professor, by Mountain View.

* = Part of the Horse Sport Ireland national showing championship series.

• Connemara Pony Syndicate Mare of the Future, Ballinasloe: Audrey Donoghue’s Crusheen Bettyspark Princess, by Monaghanstown Fionn – Stoney Princess. Breeder: Val Noone.

• Gerry Stronge & John Harney donkey final, Ballinasloe: Timmy Foley’s Betsy, by Digger Barnes. Breeder: Sean O’Neill.