CLARE celebrated in Croke Park and beyond after their 2024 All-Ireland hurling final victory and over on the opposite side of the country, Banner County exhibitors had a field day in the young horse championship at Loughrea.

Serendipity Kerin’s traditionally-bred three-year-old filly, Ouachita Diamond Lady, by Cloonacauneen Grandpa out of Flower Fairy, won her class and then brought another title back to Clare last Sunday for her Bellharbour owner.

Another home-bred Banner filly - Edel and Dominic Curtin’s yearling by Centennial - stood reserve champion young horse and also qualified for another All-Ireland final for her popular owner, in this case the yearling filly championship, which returns to Scariff in 2024.

While Centennial will be an absentee from this year’s Croker Cup class, confirmed Dublin-bound runners include the Noone family. They enjoyed a clean sweep in Loughrea’s Irish Draught classes, as both Crusheen Luna (Tors Gentleman Farmer) and her Inisfree The Holy Grail filly foal were winners.

Sasha Smith’s delightful Sunrae is having a great season, having been the reserve champion cob at the AIRC Festival and added another red ribbon to their growing collection last Sunday. As an added bonus, he then stood champion ridden horse, ahead of Roisin Conway’s pure-bred Draught, A Secret To Remember.

More champions included Caitriona Glynn’s intermediate Castletaylor Cobrador, winner of the show hunter pony championship. The reserve tricolour went to Casilda Laird’s Milford Fair Bronze (Milford Fanfare).

The Loughrea championship went to Kiara Dempsey’s Lisnadrisha Nikiao (CP by Silver Shadow), another of the Loughrea brigade heading to Dublin, having qualified at Scarteen.