PROUDLY sporting his The Irish Field jacket at Bandon Show was Patrick McCarthy who won it as part of his prize in a Valentine’s Day competition on Facebook.

Readers were invited to post their favourite photo and Patrick’s winning photo earned him an Irish Field goody bag, which was posted to him in France where he is working with thoroughbreds.

He returned home to Bandon in time for his local show, where he was quickly recruited by John Roche whose Assagart Kingstead Fiona and foal were on the winning trail.

John’s son Cathal was just a baby when he first visited Dublin Horse Show in 2014, when the family’s Assagart My Only Hope won The Irish Field Breeders Championship.

He was also at Bandon on Sunday under the watchful eye of his grandmother, Mary Margaret, who co-owns their Huntingfield Rebel winning mare.

GROOM DOWN

Seamus Lehane, also sporting a smart new jacket, is a groom down this show season with his son Duncan spending the summer in Vancouver, where his older brother Conrad has lived for the past six years.

The Civil Environment Engineering student showed the Abdullah mare Ballard Queen when Ballard Jewel, her Ghareeb filly foal, won the 2008 All Ireland filly foal final. Nine years later, Ballard Jewel produced both the champion and reserve young horse champions at Bandon.

The Clonakilty exhibitor had his other regular assistant, John Crowley, and daughter Fiona on hand for their busy day.

John led Seamus’s second entry in the yearling class, won by Ballard Oatfield Diamond (pictured), by the late Colin Diamond.