Charleville Show delivered an impressive event and in addition to the many worthy pony champions recently, the Munster fixture was a reminder of the fun element of going to shows. Kate Jarvey, whose Ringwood Mississippi was selected with Austin O’Connor for the Irish WEG eventing team, shared out her surprise birthday cake among the competitors in the special leadrein class, while rugby legend John Hayes lined out with his five-year-old daughter Róisín to support their nearby show.

In Sunday’s horse championships, Russell Cowley’s Cloneyhea Peas (Arthurs Gold) won both the Horse Sport Ireland broodmare class and overall broodmare championship, with PJ Lehane’s PJ’s Dream (Lux Z) in reserve. Both the champion and reserve foal, owned by Stephen Culliney and Tom Clancy, were by OBOS Quality.

Regina Daly’s yearling Keamore Reward (Financial Reward) won the young horse championship with the reserve title going to Seamus Lehane’s Ballard Wiseguy (Loughehoe Guy). Winning out in the strong ridden horse section was Val Hyde’s The Publisher (Buster King) who stood ahead of Avril Riordan’s Castlemyle Kilkea Castle (Powhatan).

Among the many pony champions was the delightful Diggory Delvet, who won the mini title for his six-year-old pilot Verona Madigan on Saturday, before the pair packed their bags to go to Tipperary Pony Club’s camp this week. Reserve was last year’s champion Amesbury Bumble Bee, owned by Jenny O’Driscoll.

Martha McNamara’s Penyffnon Ricochet (Llanarth Aristocrat) and Belinda Johnson and Karen Tarry’s Honeypound Jack The Lad (Cadlanvalley Tycoon) stood champion and reserve show hunters and Vincent O’Driscoll’s new purchase Meadowmor Polly Pocket (Astral Heartbreaker) dominated the in-hand classes, with Dermot Horgan’s Rotherwood Top Of The Pops (Rotherwood Peter Pan) in reserve.

The Connemara scene in Munster benefited from an extensive range of classes with Margaret O’Neill’s Lickeen Finnbar (Dunloughan Lad) taking the champion tricolour. Linda O’Donovan’s two-year-old filly Caherross Duchess (Glencarrig Knight) starred in the new Crowley Engineering All-Ireland youngstock championship, while the champion’s dam, Moorland Snow Queen, also provided young Emily O’Donovan with a win in her first young handlers’ class.

Connors & Diamond Lady sparkle

Francis Connors and the Hilda Anthony-owned Uskerty Diamond Lady grabbed the winner’s prize in the Connolly’s Red Mills Munster Grand Prix league at Charleville Show in Co Cork. The same partnership were victorious in the previous round at West Clare and they were in devastating form again in Charleville, in a tight competition that saw less than a second and a half separate the top five finishers.

Show for West Cork Breeders

The West Cork Horse Breeders are holding their annual performance show at the West Cork Equine Centre, Kilbrittain, on Saturday 19 July. The usual classes take place, including a qualifier for the Young Irelander class at Millstreet in August. This year there will also be a Performance Irish Draught competition. Further details and entry forms are available on the new website www.westcorkhorsebreeders.com. Entries close on Tuesday 15 July.