SHOWING coverage began in April, when Cavan played host to the Northern Ireland Festival. Debbie Harrod’s middleweight hunter Bloomfield Valhalla and Tony Bell’s Shetland stallion Wiknors Gryffindor were early supreme horse and pony champions in 2024.

The first casualty of the agricultural show season was Newmarket-on-Fergus, due to wet ground conditions. The Banner County show was rescheduled for June.

The May 18th issue carried a news story regarding doubts over the 99th Clifden Pony Show going ahead in the Showgrounds, due to its sand arena surface needing a complete renovation. The sixth year of the Connollys Red Mills Champion of Champions series was launched.

Extensive coverage of Balmoral’s many champions, included Paula Howard’s Tullabeg Hello (young horse), Yvonne Pearson’s Kief Queen B (broodmare), Amanda Benson’s Madra Rua (ridden hunter) and Kieran Feldman’s KBF Paved With Stars (working hunter).

It proved a mixed year for Madra Rua’s breeder Paul Cleary, who lost his former Coote Cup champion Lady Fassagh in June.

Show previews kicked off that month, when Athlone Show launch took place. Amongst the award recipients at the launch was local James Derwin for his medal haul with Rincoola Babog.

Paula Howard applauds as her Tullabeg Hello is announced as the Balmoral young horse champion \ Susan Finnerty

Part two of Margie McLoone’s Balmoral report featured the pony champions, including Amanda Torrens’ Leave It To You (show hunter), Daryl Hopkins’ Caherpuca Chappy (ridden Connemara), Sarah O’Rourke’s Pineview Romeo (mini pony) and a poignant back-to-back double for Alicia Devlin Byrne’s Blackwood Fernando (Connemara working hunter).

Athenry and Midleton bucked the ongoing trend of a lack of results provided by some shows. Compiling this review is another reminder of what a store of information the Irish Horse World reports and results sections are and Paul Coffey’s Saturday morning ritual (see ‘What They Said’ opposite) is one repeated in many households.

May also brought the sad news of the passing of Carnew Show’s Dorothea Lazenby. The first lady president of the Irish Shows Association (ISA) was equal parts a stickler for fair play and devoted to the Irish show scene.

Lucky

Chris Carter and Damien McCormack’s Cloonan Hector (ridden) and Jimmy Noone’s Crusheen Breeze (in-hand) were the supreme champions at the inaugural IDHBA Galway Branch show in Ballinasloe. Another Irish Draught - Jill Moffatt’s A Hero’s Welcome - was crowned supreme show champion at the AIRC Festival, held at Mullingar EC.

Victoria Teuton’s Balmoral ridden Draught champion, Shannaghmore Inferno, followed up with supreme titles at the IDHBA Kildare and Dublin Branch shows.

At Westport, local TD Michael Ring predicted that, “No Minister will ever take it away,” referring to Department for Rural and Community Development agricultural show funding.

Midlands show coverage galore in the June 22nd edition between the Showing Show of the Year at Mullingar and Athlone, which took place the following day and saw several ‘showring dads’ spend Fathers’ Day there.

There was quite a special Pony Tales piece about young Mohill exhibitor, Paul Bohan. He and younger brother Kian took part in the Next Gen Herefords scheme of rearing and selling a weanling, then donated the €3,220 proceeds to their local Alzeimher’s charity.

Athlone once again proved to be the lucky qualifying venue for The Irish Field Breeders’ championship show jumping section, as future winner John McDonnell and his CBI Ice Queen and her Vancouver filly qualified here.

Royal Highland Show champions included Debbie Harrod’s My Diamond Solitaire (supreme hunter), Rachel Flynn’s Fiery Diplomat (Mountain & Moorland ridden) and Sandra Burton’s Aniar Cashel (in-hand).

From waterlogged ground in May to 23 degrees at Corrandulla and Newcastle West shows in late June.

West Limerick had provided a springtime treasure trove of articles about local equestrian families and a precision-run Newcastle West show did not disappoint. Tricolour winners ranged from Nicola Perrin’s Showing Show of the Year champion: Ballarin Boudica to the youngest champion: Rohan Moloney on Tabita Mini Minx.

Charleville, one of the last two-day agricultural shows, once again produced several hard-won champions, capped by Alice Copithorne’s Kipling (supreme horse) and Oorla Cusack’s Tiger Eye (supreme pony).

Charleville Banker: Supreme champion horse Kipling and Alice Copithorne strike a pose \ Susan Finnerty

Medals

Longford was another show to know its USP, providing an abundance of family and musical entertainment. Of special note, was Charlotte Walshe’s former four-star eventer Kinsau, winning the working hunter title.

In the July 12th edition, the topic of judge’s insurance cover featured in the news pages, following British ride judge David Ingle’s fall at Balmoral back in May. Bannow and Rathangan celebrated 25 years of its All-Ireland three-year-old final concept, with a special pre-championship presentation to previous winning owners; this year’s champion was Sharon Kelly Murphy’s Annaghmore Dunkirk.

Her Annaghmore Flo Pleasure, the Bannow champion’s half-brother, had a good year too, winning the All-Ireland two-year-old final at Tinahely and the NI Horse Board youngstock champion title in September.

While the equestrian world’s attention moved to Paris, it was business as usual for a string of well-organised Mayo shows at Ballina, Crossmolina and Louisburgh. Tiernan Gill took the young horse title with Flogas Syb at Louisburgh, the show where the Irish Horse Board chairman won his first rosette.

Nicola Perrin won the Connolly’s Red Mills Champion of Champions hunter championship with Solsboro Zeus at the Barnadown-hosted final. The same combination were also champions at the Tattersalls July Show. Tara Hudson’s Hudson Mermus (riding horse) and Tara Murphy’s Assagart Divine (amateur) were the other big winners at Barnadown.

Moate’s 181st anniversary show launch was featured in the August 3rd issue, when Michael Ring’s decision to step down at the next general election was among the news stories.

As it happened, one of the Westport TD’s next outings was to officially open Clarecastle Show, where he found himself as one of this year’s Clarecastle Medal recipients, for having secured agricultural show’s ‘lifeline’ back in 2018. Eilene Brennan, Cyril Conway, Paddy Quirke and Dick O’Connell were also honoured.

Sharon Kelly Murphy’s Annaghmore Dunkirk (Brian Boru young horse), John Roche’s Assagart Faithful (Banner broodmare), Patrick Curran’s Glencarrig Laurina (Shannon Connemara) and Danielle Cusack’s Clonaslee Monte Cristo (ISA All-Ireland colt foal) were the Clarecastle showring winners.

Memorable

The Dublin Horse Show report issue (August 24th) appeared later than usual due to the Olympic Games date reshuffle. Condensing 14 pages of reports and photos from the two showrings is a mini Olympic-sized task in itself, however by Horse Show week’s end, Jamie Smyth had won back-to-back leading rider awards and Regina Daly was the leading exhibitor.

Smyth’s champion rides included the Hurst Show Team’s Tattygare Me Me Me (supreme hunter), while other hunter winners included Mary Rothwell’s Greenhall Stroll In The Park (Sportsman), Louise Lyons’ Clandeboye (working hunter) and Ballarin Equine’s Stonepark Team Spirit (small).

Eamon and Gladys McArdle’s support for the Croker Cup paid off, when their Drumhowan Stud’s Lucarelli was the champion thoroughbred stallion and Pat Hoare’s Moylough Supremacy won the Irish Draught stallion equivalent.

Paula Howard’s memorable year continued when her combination of Dernahatten Out Of Touch and Timpany Northern Lights won the eventing section of The Irish Field Breeders’ Championship. John McDonnell won the show jumping section on his first Ring 1 appearance with CBI Ice Queen and her filly foal, Nice Queen.

The Roche family won back-to-back Coote Cup broodmare titles with Assagart Fairytale (hunter broodmare). Valerie Davis’s Castleview Lady Georgina (mare) and Gerry Ferguson’s Oxview Ruby (foal) were the other Irish Draught champions.

Rebecca Monahan’s filly Dermish Not A Dare matched her owner’s previous Laidlaw Cup clean sweep in the young horse classes in 2015 with Notalot. More of Dublin’s younger winners included Evie Kennedy (Little Dromin Phoenix, working hunter), Esther Lowry (Annandale Prince Charming, show hunter champion), Lauren O’Rourke (Pineview Romeo, first ridden) and then the two lead rein winners: Myia Latto (Chaseford Camelia, show pony) and Rachel Nee (Holthall Gladiator, show hunter).

The number of news items regarding the uncertainty over Clifden Show was second to the HSI passport delays issue throughout the summer, although the Clifden in-hand classes did go ahead in their traditional Showgrounds home.

Bryan and Niamh O’Halloran’s Cabra Jane, supreme champion at the Midland Connemara Pony Breeders’ Show too, was this year’s Clifden in-hand supreme champion.

Selfie Time: Katie Wyse records the Dublin championship moment after winning aboard Clareville Codiac in the the eight to 15-year-old section of the Connemara performance hunter on Day 1 \ Susan Finnerty

Wedding bells

Nice Queen added another crown after she won the All-Ireland filly foal final at Moate for John McDonnell, while in Limerick, Charles Dullea’s Killountain Cruise and Margaret Jeffares’ Ballykelly Jasmine were the Limerick Lady and Limerick Matron champions.

Aidan Flanagan’s RHS Strings Attached was the overall supreme champion at the TIHA performance championships, another hosted at Mullingar EC.

In native breed results, Liam Lynskey’s DS Bounce With Me Baby and Pat Finn’s Kentucky Dancer were the respective supreme champions at the IDHBA and IDHS national shows at Punchestown and Ballinasloe Showgrounds.

Cross-channel, the Tony Walsh-bred Moyabbey George was the Connemara ridden champion at the Horse of the Year Show for Ailsa Vines, having also won the Dublin ridden stallion class. Mulberry Lane, bred by Brian Clinghan, stood in the HOYS supreme horse champion spotlight on Sunday night.

Claire Lynch’s Hilin Peter Pan and Ann Grimes’ Lambay I’m Amazing were the overall pure-bred and part-bred champions at the Welsh Pony and Cob Association of Ireland (IWPCS) annual show at Kilbride EC. Orla Whelton’s Whiteleaze Secret Temptation was the overall Pony of the Year at the IWPCS awards in November. At the IPS Foal of the Year Show, the supreme champion was John Dinneen’s Tyrellspass Charmer.

Racehorse to riding horse classes were again well-supported. The popular Treo Eile final was held at the Royal Meath Show in Trim, where Sabrina Harty’s Slievenamon John (novice) and Jane Davis’s Tiffany’s Gold (open) were this year’s champions.

Stephanie McGlynn’s Mickah Wallace won Dublin’s Racehorse to Riding Horse crowd magnet and Heather McKenzie’s Brain Power won the RTRH final at Hollypark.

As the year came to a close, Pony Tales included the wedding news of West Cork exhibitor Aidan Willamson and Lucinda Farmbrough. Another story involved the donation of the €1,000 fee, for the use of Galway EC for Clifden’s relocated ridden classes, to the Galway Hospice.

The November 30th issue included a photo of the partially-demolished Anglesea Stand as part of a €52 million redevelopment plan for the RDS arena.

A tribute to the late Bernard Byrne appeared in the January 13th issue and, as the year went on, more sad losses included Pádraig Hynes, who bred the Canal-prefixed Connemaras; Michael Duignan, Horse Board member and judge; keen exhibitor Thomas Conlon; George Ledwith, a keen pony exhibitor involved with the Midland Connemara Pony Show; renowned judge and horseman Paddy O’Donnell; the Welsh Pony and Cob Society of Ireland’s Jane Williams; Irish Draught enthusiast Stephen Keeley and Allister Hood, one of the UK’s leading exhibitors.

2024 snapshots taken, the future of showing is another article in the making. Last but not least, the annual thank you to the ever-patient IHW team of Judith, Lesley, Bree and Domhnall, for the showing world pages exceptional layout.

Eyes On The Judge: Helena O’Doherty and Diamand Anfrody at Charleville Show \ Susan Finnerty

What they said

“It’s too hot. I’m going home.” - One overheated spectator at Newcastle West Show. You can’t win.

“The shop for a cup of coffee and The Irish Field - that’s my Saturday morning. And on Thursdays, it’s the Farmers Journal. There’s only two papers I buy.” - Discerning reader Paul Coffey.

“I was told when I was asked to judge that my job would be hard and there was a high standard here in the Golden Vale - today proved that. It came down to a personal choice on the day. What you won last Sunday doesn’t matter. If that was the case, [that last week’s winner is automatically entitled to win] who would go showing?” - Cormac O’Rourke, Charleville judge.

“I bought Kipling in November as a birthday present for myself, as I like having a TIH to compete. I’m using shows to get him used to big atmospheres as we don’t have those crowds eventing. He also really enjoys being in the spotlight.” - Alice Copithorne’s better-than-any-handbag birthday gift.

“I was very lucky to have Ghareeb.” - Jay Bowe, during the Bannow & Rathangan presentation to previous winning owners. It [All Ireland three-year-old final] started off as a cross-border initiative and it’s wonderful to see this championship going from strength to strength each year.” - James Callaghan, Galway Crystal & Belleek China.

“A wonderful show. Sadly, we don’t have enough of them in England. You get the big ones, which are surviving, but they’re very commercial nowadays. This has got a lovely family feel about it.” - Visiting UK judge Chris Gordon was charmed by Bannow & Rathangan.

“The Government recognises how important agricultural shows are like this. It is the heartbeat of our rural communities and that’s why my colleague, Minister Heather Humphreys, was delighted to be able to give a grant of over €11,000 towards the cost of this show [Bannow and Rathangan], because it’s a big undertaking for a voluntary committee. We’ve invested over four million euros in 122 agricultural shows since 2018, and will continue to do so in the future.” - Martin Heydon, TD, outgoing Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).

“To be competing in the All Ireland at Bannow was a real privilege, and for my filly to emerge from that impressive line-up as reserve champion was very heaven - with apologies to Wordsworth! As ever and always, I owe it all to [producers] Gillian and David Lyons, top team!” - Paula Howard, Tullabeg Hello’s owner.

“With the buzz around the ring, I just kept walking. He was pulled in fifth and I kept boxwalking while it was being judged. I’m still pinching myself!” - Sharon Kelly Murphy, owner of this year’s Bannow & Rathangan champion.

“This show inspires people. This is a show that you will not see surpassed in any part of the country. I love what happens in this tent [Clarecastle medals presentation], it is usually handing over rosettes to prize winners at a show, but it is fabulous to acknowledge the people who keep shows going.” - Cathal Crowe, TD.

“I’ve often asked that busy man [Michael Slattery] for help and he’s always given it. I had a funeral yesterday [aunt Edna O’Brien], I had the Olympics last week, I had the car boot sale this morning and that had to be ran. I had Lady Antonia Fraser in for tea and then I rang my brother [John] and said, ‘Is the show still on?’ So, [in] Michael Slattery… you don’t know what you’ve got here. The man’s a genius.” - Michael Blake.

“Imagine getting a horse for a Christmas present! I got a heifer!” - May this TIHA performance championship spectator have traded up by this Yuletide.