A NEW Puissance record and an all-time record number of spectators through the gate was the story of Corrandulla Show last Sunday. The sun beamed down from morning until evening on a show which revives the belief that agricultural shows still have their place in country life and, in this case, are well and truly alive.

The fact that there is no show of this scale in the surrounding townlands – Galway County would once have been the flagship nearby – drew spectators from all walks of life; those interested in the cattle, sheep, poultry, sheep dog demonstrations, the extensive food village or the entertainment marquee, which had music and dancing from noon.

Chairperson of the show, Lucille Smyth, said the show committee were delighted and overwhelmed with the number of spectators. “We could never have anticipated the numbers; we were overrun with people and, please God, it’s the way of the future. Since Covid, we were wondering if anyone would want to come back to a show like this, but they actually want it on the double!

“We are blessed to have younger members on our committee and they are all about giving the community a day out and bringing the people back year after year,” said Lucille, who added the power of social media has also helped the show.

“We are indebted to the land owner, Michael Kavanagh. There would be no show without him. Farming is so businesslike nowadays. The stone walls between the field make breaks and help with laying out the arenas, as well as health and safety with all animals accessing their rings from the back areas, which are excluded from pedestrians.

“The setting is perfect. We could do even more if we had more space. We have ridden Connemara classes, but some people mentioned ridden Irish Draught classes and ridden hunter classes, so that is something to work on. We have plenty to review.”

Smyth added: “There is a real hunger for these shows and we want to keep the tradition of the country show alive, it is important for our heritage, but we have to move with the times and keep it current. We want to keep building sponsorship and get the cost of the gate down for the punters and make sure they have plenty to see when they come to Corrandulla.”

Kieran McGrath's three-year-old colt Hazelrock Galaxy was the Supreme Connemara pony champion of the show at Corrandulla \ Sean Lydon

Excitement

Four starters lined out in the Puissance competition, sponsored to the tune of €2,000 by Harrington’s Concrete, and it was a cracking class. Spectators were five deep around the arena to see the horses take on the big red wall. In the best finish possible, it went to five rounds between Andrew Hodgins, who was double handed, and Victoria Foster.

In the end, Hodgins was the only clear over a show record of 2m with his own Sandra, a 14-year-old Lux Z mare. He faulted in the fifth round to finish second with John Glynn’s Shanaclough Luichew, while Foster, after four brilliant rounds, unfortunately took a tumble with Gabriel Mullins’ Zambia.

While it’s getting harder and harder to encourage riders to jump on grass, the show jumping also clashed with pony and young rider RDS qualifiers in Barnadown and a four-day show in Cavan. That said, 19 lined out for the €2,500 Derryronane Stud Connaught Grand Prix, sponsored by Kenny Galway, who have supported this class for 10 years.

Claremorris’ Shane Goggins made it two from two in as many weeks, when landing the feature class with Neil Egan’s eight-year-old home-bred mare Cloonbarry Kannalilly (Kannan x Cassini II). There were seven clears in the first round over Killian Clarke’s 1.35m track, which made for an exciting jump-off.

Double-handed, Goggins was first to go with Cloonbarry Kannalilly and set the standard with a clear in 37.40 seconds to put the pressure on the rest, and that he did as he held on for victory. Andrew Hodgins slotted into second with Sandra, as the only other double clear round. James Joyce gave it a good shot against the clock with his own Garryduff Jar of Hearts (Zandeur x Furisto), but the tricky plank fell and he settled for third place.

Winner of the Derryronane Stud 1.35m Connaught Showjumping Grand Prix at Corrandulle Show was Shane Goggins and Cloonbarry Kannalilly. Pictured with sponsor Brian Kenny of Kenny Galway \ Chloe Goggins Photography

Goggins was delighted with victory and full of praise for the show. “It is always a fantastic show at Corrandulla and the big crowds make it a great atmosphere. It was a very well organised day and the main arena here is lovely, with very good ground.”

Connemaras

As usual, there were big entries across the board in the Connemara in-hand classes, where judge Philip Scott was taken with Kieran McGrath’s three-year-old Hazelrock Galaxy (Hojbjerg’s Bright Star - Hazelrock Star). The grey won his class before going on to be crowned junior champion and, upon returning to the supreme championship in the evening, he was called forward as the overall champion of the day.

From the busy morning section, the reserve junior champion was Tim McNamara’s yearling colt by Shadows Dun out of the Spinway Atlantic Gamble mare Atlantic Gorgeous Gamble.

Reserve overall champion of the show was Gearoid Curran with his six-year-old mare Glencarrig Rosie (Glencarrig Prince x Glencarrig Knight), winner of the four to six-year-old mare class and the earlier Connemara Champion mare of the show, sponsored by AIB for the Kim Quirke Memorial Cup. Reserve champion mare was Grace Maxwell Murphy’s Glencarrig Princess Ella (Glencarrig Knight x Glencarrig Prince).

A great supporter of the show, Robbie Fallon’s home-bred Cashelbay Mellow (Cashelbay Prince x Hazy Dawn) was crowned the ridden champion by judge Kevin McGuinness.

McGuinness also judged the horse classes, where he found his champion in Darragh Glynn and Niamh Varley’s colt foal VG Elusive Clann, a chesnut by Elusive Emir out of the Mermus R mare Clann Misshermus who won the non-thoroughbred mare class earlier in the day. The reserve champion was Martin Coen’s Irish Draught mare Kilcahill Coleen.

Niamh Varley and Darragh Glynn with Clann Misshermus and champions foal VG Elusive Clann, and Judge Kevin McGuinness \ Sean Lydon