Ruth Rogers

CHAMPIONS old and new graced the show field at Ballinalee for the 30th annual show last Sunday.

Claire Oakes judged the in-hand classes and selected as her supreme champion Cashelbay Kate (Cashelbay Prince - Frederiksminde Mathilda) who, on her way, won the four to five-year-old mare class when exhibited by her owner Robbie Fallon from Cashelbay House Stud in Co Galway who embarked on a long-term breeding programme for both her sire and dam.

Cashelbay Prince won many championships, his sire, I Love You Melody, needs no introduction. Kate’s dam, Frederiksminde Mathilda, (Hazy Dawn - Oxenholm Movie Star by Marble) is to say the least “simply the best”. Kate is no stranger to red rosettes and she has now enhanced her reputation as a precious foundation mare. Fallon said: “I was really delighted to win the class but especially this championship, it means so much.”

Standing reserve was the stallion Glenkyle Warrior (Glencarrig Prince - Glenkyle Saoirse) (Frederiksminde Hazy Match - Aran Miranda) owned and exhibited by council member Jerry Mahon from Abbeyknockmoy, Co Galway. Warrior brings with him many old and established bloodlines.

The show commenced with the geldings, won by Grace Murphy’s Gleann Rua Afro Jack.

In the young stock divison, Karen Brennan from Dalystown, Mullingar, secured the three-year-old filly class with her Tubbervale Gold Bella (Coral Gold - Kilchreest Bella). Jane Dalrymple from Moyvalley, Co Meath, produced her well coupled dun filly Kinamara Laura (Cashelbay Chip - Ladt Sparrow), she was best of the two-year-old fillies.

Peter O’Malley and his daughter Caoilfhinn from Carraroe, made the journey worthwhile by winning a strong yearling filly class with Glenside Belle of the Ball (Gurteen Cathal - Glenside Lady). The corresponding class went to Tomas Madden’s unnamed colt (by Gleann Rua Maxwell- Gloves Fairy Hill).

Joe Burke from Cloonisle Stud, with his three-year-old Anlar Cashel (Banks Timber - Gowlane Star), came fresh from winning the recent championship at Westport and was deservedly judged the junior champion,

His sire Banks Timber (Teglestrup Duke - Banks Squares Do-Do) was imported into Ireland as a two-year-old by Seamus Hynds from Tullanna Stud in Moate while Gowlane Star (Cloonisle Cashel - Crusheen Connie) also has a lovely pedigree

The two-year-old colt and reserve junior champion, was the smart dun Lakeside Rebel (Caherlistrane Bay - Coral Teresa) owned by Claire Lacey and Danny Flynn from Geashill. This pony has some very famous names in his pedigree that will surely enhance the breeding stock at Sranure Stud.

The foal classes were on the small side but the champion foal was the filly Monaghanstown Esther (Gurteen Darragh - Monaghanstown Silver), she was continuing the productive success story of owner Pat and Mary Rabbitt’s successful dam line handed down by their foundation mare April Star.

Pat and Mary Rabbitt said: “We came to the first show in Ballinalee 30 years ago, long may it last.”

Christopher McCormack from Ballinasloe produced the reserve foal, a colt by Rocket Rowley and Martin’s Girl.

In the six to nine-year-old mares, Tomas and Fiona Grimes took red with An Cheatru Chaol Blathnaid, by Robe Earl out of their prolific broodmare Lishin Star.

Cathy Snow from Moorland Connemara’s was judged the winner of the 10-year-old and over mares with her lovely quality grey Lough Fadda Kimberley.

The champion Connemara stallion sash was awarded to reigning champion Cornarone Hazy Lad, owned by Padraic Gannon from Inverin, Co Galway.

The performance competitions and qualifiers were judged by Gil Glynn, Denise Norton and Harold McGahern.

Lorna Murphy from Taylors Hill, Co Galway, on Hazelrock Treasurer, was the proud winner of the beautiful Ronnie McMahon Perpetual Trophy.

Glencarrig Jenna, owned by Sandra Hatton from Balrath, Co Meath, won the Connemara derby from old favourite Blackwood Fernando under Alicia Devlin-Byrne with Charlotte O’Callaghan’s Glenford Scot in third.

The green hunter class was perfectly judged by Emily Higgins and qualified two ponies: Stephanie Forde’s Tallyho George (Kingstown Cavalier - Tallyho George’s Girl) and Mrs V. Butler’s Clann Daisy (Robe Surf - Windsome Mist). The Ballinalee committee are to be complimented on the informative and complete catalogue plus the results service and no late entries.