THE Royal Highland Show was the last stop on a lengthy trip around three shows in Britain, undertaken by Moneygall’s Aoife Flynn and her mother Rachel, who did all the driving.

It proved to be the most successful, as the 16-year-old won a large Junior Mountain and Moorland ridden pony large breed class, a Horse of the Year Show qualifier, on the Connemara gelding Fiery Diplomat, who was then crowned champion.

“They performed well, especially when it came to jumping at Royal Cheshire and the Lincolnshire Show, but there were no wins,” revealed Rachel. “However, it was great to end with a championship success, which justified the round trip of 1,512 kilometres – it was a tough week!

“The class was so big it was split in two and they were originally called in fifth in their section.

“They then did a fabulous showpiece, which saw them move to the top of the final line-up and really deserved to be judged champions. They also went in the open Connemara ridden qualifier, where they finished fifth and Aoife received a special award as the highest-placed young rider.

“We got the pony three years ago and the secret to success is not letting him become bored – he does a bit of everything except hunting. He’ll be given a break from the ring now, with the aim of having him back for Clifden and we’ll then tune him up for HOYS in October. Aoife breeds a Connie every year to produce for sale and she uses the money raised to fund competing.”

Fiery Diplomat, who was bred in Co Kildare by Harriet Byrne, is a 12-year-old grey son of Gleann Rua Maxwell out of the Gun Smoke mare Magic Minnie.