As well as the beribboned equine winners at Westport, there was another champion of shows present last Sunday when local hero, Michael Ring TD, officially opened his hometown show. The Minister for Rural & Community Development had spearheaded the €812,000 investment package made available this year to the country’s agricultural shows.

“I’ve talked to people around the country and they’ve all thought we got the timing right, as with the bad weather we’ve had the past couple of years, this has really given them the lift they need” said Ring, commenting on the incentive which appears to have revitalised the show scene.

Athlone exhibitor Paul Cleary’s eye-catching Sligo Candy Boy two-year-old filly was the first of the day’s champions. She won the young horse title, ahead of Martin Murphy’s traditionally-bred gelding Elusive Eclipse, a three-year-old by Elusive Emir. Judges Liam Cotter and Tom Grey later selected Tiernan Gill and Felim Clarke’s Flogas Liqueur from the following broodmare classes as their next champion.

Last year’s Dublin filly champion was covered recently by Padraig Howley’s Sligo Candy Boy.

Standing reserve champion was Tom Power’s former charge and previous All Ireland traditional foal champion Queenie, (Kings Master), now owned by Michael Egan and Danielle Cusack.

Repeat win

In the Irish Draught championship, there were repeat wins for owners Eddie Murphy with his Holycross Grace (Holycross) and Declan Ferguson, reserve this year with his Cappa Amadeus yearling colt Oxview Emperor.

Westport Show’s neat layout of three adjoining rings means there is always a class for spectators, enjoying the June Bank holiday sunshine, to watch.

Taking the first of the Connemara tricolours in the junior championship was Robbie Fallon’s two-year-old filly Cashelbay Amy (Silver Shadow) ahead of Gerard Martyn’s dun colt Killea Legend (KIllea Island). In the senior equivalent, also judged by Audrey Donoghue and Val Noone, it was a win for Damien Gorham’s Doonhill Misty Dawn (Currachmore Cashel) ahead of Tomas & Fiona Grimes Ember Grey (Lake Lad).

Jimmy Canavan’s pony champion was Barossa Camilla with Emma Devaney-Kelly’s smart Rickamore Flaine (Crosskeys Rebel) as reserve. This was a hat-trick of Westport titles for Roscommon owner Deirdre Coyne, having won the championship with Bacchus two years ago, “and now I can go to Bloom tomorrow,” said Coyne.