An outing to their local show to prepare for the Dublin and Millstreet loose jumping qualifiers paid off for Brian Kennedy last Sunday when his Meadowlands Barbossa, winner of the 2013 Millstreet futurity, was Frances Cash and Fintan Flannelly’s supreme champion choice.

“There’s more work in showing than show jumping,” remarked the delighted owner, who bought the Harlequin Du Carel-Castana three-year-old gelding as a five-month-old foal from breeder Jennifer Haverty from Nenagh.

“George, my husband, has his pedigree Charolais [cattle] and I have my horses,” said Jennifer, who was watching at the ringside.

This was the second week in a row that a show champion was bought through the Irish Farmers Journal classified ads.

Kennedy won through to the supreme decider by taking the young horse title. Reserve was PJ Lehane’s Lux Z filly PJs Dream, who was the overall filly champion. The thoroughbred championship went to another showring debutante in Claudine Corrigan’s two-year-old Presenting gelding, out of Sleepless Eye, already a dam of two winners.

Leonard Supple’s Soutwell Diamond Diva, by Flagmount King, retained her Midleton broodmare title.

Cash and Flannelly had both the sport horse and thoroughbred champions forward for their supreme young horse tricolour and opted for Meadowlands Barbossa.

“He’s an out and out champion with bone, substance and movement, and is as good as we’ve seen for a long time,” declared Flannelly.

His co-judge was equally emphatic. Was their champion as good a prospect as her previous six Dublin champions, several by Cork-based stallions? “Definitely.”

Another impressed judge was DP Jones of Menai Stud, who judged the Welsh classes. The visiting judge found his supreme champion in Martin O’Sullivan’s exquisite Section B mare Paddock Porcelain, found at Fayre Oaks sale.

“Her only problem is she’s in Ireland,” said Jones.

While Leap Show chairman O’Sullivan took a day off from organising their re-scheduled show, which now takes place on June bank holiday Monday, Leaving Cert student Aidan Williamson’s decision to put the books aside also paid off.

His and father William’s Goldengrove Skyfall stood reserve supreme to add to his earlier in-hand title.

Another Welsh connection was Belinda Johnson’s Moneypound Jack The Lad, ridden by Sarah Healy to win the show hunter pony championship.

Bought when his breeder Kate Tarry was moving to South Africa, the 153cm winner is an embryo transfer foal and is by the Welsh sire Cadlan Valley Tycoon out of a 158cm thoroughbred dam.

Johnson also produced Liam Ruttle’s Newmarket-On-Fergus winner Bronheulog Sunny Boy, ridden by his daughter Carol, to stand reserve.

Mel Marnane’s Sharlen Gone With The Wind won the show pony title with Sarah Hatton’s Seamoor Flashdance in reserve, while in the working hunter pony championship, Mary Doyle’s intermediate Kilshane Roo won ahead of Martha McNamara’s Penyffynon Ricochet.

In the final championship, Pat Loughlin’s imposing heavyweight Katmandu won the ridden show hunter championship with Lyndsey O’Brien’s My Silver Knight in reserve.