THE 95th renewal of Limerick show took place last Sunday, August 25th, at Limerick Racecourse.

With six showing rings, almost 50 classes, plus a jumping arena, and not to mention a large cattle showing section, sheep, poultry and a dog show, it was going to be a busy day for the hard working executive. With over 250 individual horses and ponies showing and 120 jumping, it was a very full programme from flag fall to finish

Held as usual at the racecourse with anchor sponsor AMCS on board, the day was a great success. The locally-based hi-tec company, along with the McManus Fund were the main sponsors, allowing the executive to maintain the entrance fee at a very modest € 15 and a plethora of free entertainment thrown in. It proved a great day out for all, the only down side being less than ideal weather which put a slight damper on the day.

It is the third year for AMCS to be on board and their founder and CEO, Jimmy Martin and his team, have been working hard to make the show a success.

The show has established a new management team led by Richard Kennedy and Leo Walsh with show treasurer Mary Mann, Richard Power Jnr, Paul Hennessy and Joan Bateman and of course Jimmy Martin and his team from AMCS who have been hands on for the last couple of months bringing the show to fruition.

The show is supported by many professionals such as medical officers Dr Denise McMahon and Dr Maurice Rowsome, while the equine patients were looked after by veterinary surgeons Dr Louis Hasset MRCVS and Ballybrown Veterinary Clinic.

There was a marvellous and hard working team already on hand with cattle showing being run by Dr Doreen Corrigan MRCVS, Richard O’Regan from Athlacca who looks after horse showing, Geraldine Nicolas who runs Horticulture and the hard working Ann Gabbett of the crafts department. Seamus Leahy is the new chairman of sheep section, while Dee Cusack and Fergal Deegan look after entertainment and the business side of the show. Show jumping was very efficiently run by David Moran of Askeaton.

Veteran win

Speaking of show jumping, with over 120 entries in the horse jumping ring, the Amateur class, sponsored by Deelside Saddlery, was won by the veteran Pam Jackman from Killaloe on her own Sir Lance, with her daughter Denise Jackman on Great Balls of Fire second and Catherine Egan on Pablo in third.

The next class was the 1m sponsored by Marian Fitzgibbon of Widdess Pharmacy. The Jackman family were again to the fore with the red rosette being claimed by Denise Jackman on Cruising the Ring with second going to Catherine Egan on Pablo, with Aideen Kirby from nearby Croagh claiming third.

The 1.10m, sponsored by Bill Hanly MFH of Hanly Donnellan Auctioneers, went to Faye Delaney on Rossdarragh Flash with the second being claimed by Robyn Moran, whose dad Brian won the Maryland Hunt Cup on Young Dubliner back in 2002. She was riding Annyalla Blue Star, with third going to Roisin Cahill from Cappagh on Ballygowan Rosseva.

The final class of the day was for the Mary Fitzgerald Perpetual Cup which was very appropriately won by young Sarah Fitzgerald on HHS Lou, with Richard Hourigan from Ahane a close second on Killaloan Cobra Carel and Sophie Mullane on Diamond Dreamer in third.

Showing

In the showing and working hunter section, chairman Richard O’Regan and Joan Bateman of TIHA had a very full programme to get through. They are ably assisted by Fiona O’Sullivan and Ann Cregan of Askeaton.

Limerick has always been associated with the Limerick Lady Broodmare championship and the TIHA Limerick Matron champions which went the way of Margaret Jeffares with her smashing mare Ballykelly Jasmine, a seven-year-old mare by Gortfree Hero out of Ballykelly Hi Hope (Big Sink Hope).

Margaret Jeffares with Ballykelly Jasmine, winner of the TIHA Limerick Matron Championship. She received the Lady Hemphill Perpetual Challenge Cup and as breeder of the Supreme Champion and the Perpetual Silver Salver from the Chairman of the TIHA Kevin Noone \ Catherine Power

The reserve in that championship was Charles Dullea’s Killountain Cruise who went on to win the Limerick Lady Championship for two-year-old fillies. The home-bred is by Killountain Cross out of the Cruising mare Killountain Clover. The reserve was Kenneth and Wendy Bell’s Castleview Lady’s Supremacy.

Ridden classes

The ridden hunter section in Limerick for the Dunraven Cup is sponsored by Sir Francis Brooke, a grand nephew of the late Lord Dunraven who founded the show. Chief ring steward Bill Hanly MFH had his hands full in running the ridden hunter ring which was very ably judged by Susan Collen with Kevin Brouder acting as riding judge

This section is always hotly contested with champion hunter going to Dash Bouncer, beautifully ridden by Camila Kear and owned and bred by Mairead English MFH (Scarteen) with reserve going to the Small Hunter, Emily Maher’s Monanore Sully.

The racehorse to riding class, again generously sponsored by Tattersalls, went to Sarah Neville’s Limekiln Rock, ahead of Tessa Foreman’s Aloneamongmillions; and Rebecca Hayes’ Hash Brown third.

Elegance personified the side saddle went to Amory McMahon’s Woodfieldfarm Baloo with Olivia Connolly’s Mountain Hideaway in second and Mary Davoran O’Regan’s Lordhill finishing third.

In the working hunter section, the Open and Novice 133cm Working Hunter went to Sue Ann Foley’s Camtra Bucks Fizz, ridden by her daughter Cara who is a granddaughter of J.P. McManus.

Cara Foley and Camtra Bucks Fizz, winners the 133cms Working Hunter at the AMCS Limerick Show \ Catherine Power

For many, the high point of the show was the Liskennett Equine Assisted Activity Centre which had moved en bloc for the day to the show ground. Twenty four families took part in the day long exercise. This world class centre directed by David Doyle offers riding therapy to young people and adults with autism or intellectual disability.

Enda Bolger and Derek O’Connor were on hand all ensuring everyone had a safe and enjoyable day.

In the lead rein for under 5s, chief ring steward John McNamara had to be recused as he had no less than three grandchildren - young Cian O’Neill and Sean and Saoirse Lenihan in the class… that is what family showing is all about!