THE bumper Flavours of Fingal Show will throw open its gates this weekend to what has become the country’s largest two-day event, expected to draw crowds of over 80,000, while Sunday’s National Hound Show at Stradbally has also attracted huge entries.

The Joe Duffy BMW Equestrian Zone, hosted by the Fingal Harriers, will be a hive of activity at what is now the massive Flavours of Fingal Show, Newbridge House, Donabate, North County Dublin. Some 800 horses and ponies flocked to the 2019 show, visited by 90,000 people.

Tesco Ireland is title sponsor and the show is hosted by Fingal County Council, in conjunction with the Fingal Farmers Group and the Fingal Harriers who have all seen it rapidly grow in a few short years to now become one of the country’s flagship events. The equestrian zone will feature a busy schedule of six show jumping classes and 14 showing classes, including RDS qualifiers for racehorse to riding horse and side saddle (full coverage in next week’s issue). There’s an attractive €5,000 prize fund for the inaugural Joe Duffy Motors BMW Grand Prix, with courses designed by Tom Holden, and a combined €15,000 up for grabs across the equine schedule.

Car parking is available and shuttle buses will be in operation from nearby hubs.

To the delight of the hunting community emerging from a difficult two years, Sunday’s National Hound Show at Stradbally promises to be a great event with 16 Foxhound packs showing 388 Foxhounds, along with a very strong Harrier and Beagle entry, entered. Entries across all categories at the National Hound are buoyant and large numbers of visitors nationwide are expecting in Laois on Sunday (coverage next week).

First held in 1865, Clonmel Show also takes place at Powerstown Park Racecourse on Sunday, offering a prize fund of €18,600 spread throughout 56 horse and pony classes. There’s 21 jumping competitions in four arenas including the €5,000 Red Mills Munster Grand Prix. Other highlights include the €4,500 Coolmore TB broodmare and foal classes and the €1,000 Ridden Championship and ISA qualifiers.

Tullamore Official Equine launched

Meanwhile, Tullamore’s official equine section was launched this week and for the first time ever, equine entries will be taken up to noon on show day. The closing dates for entries by post is July 1st while online entries close on July 6th.

Tullamore’s classes consist of Non thoroughbred Young Stock and Mare and Foal and six classes for the Irish Draught and a further six in Connemara. The highlight is the Glenwood Gold Medal Breeders Challenge which boasts a first prize of €250.

A new class “introduction to working hunter will be judged as an equitation class open to horses and ponies. It aims to invite 70-80cms for anyone who wants to try the working hunters. This year the TIHA have come on board to offer a rug and €75 bonus to the highest placed traditionally bred horse in the open working hunter.

There are also classes for Clydesdale and Miniatures as well as the elegant Ladies Side Saddle class. The ever-popular family pony section always proves to be a great favourite with the highlight being the Best Pony and Rider in fancy dress.

Attracting some 60,000 people, Tullamore Show & FBD National Livestock Stock will offer €175,000 in prize money across 1,000 competitions and categories on Sunday, August 14th next at Butterfield Estate, Tullamore.

A ‘trade town’ of some 700 shops, displays and exhibits will cover over 80 acres and include farm machinery, agricultural and industrial supplies, garden, home and leisure, food, crafts, tourism and travel, fashion and gadgets.

(Tickets for Tullamore are on sale now at www.tullamoreshow.com online for €20 or purchase on the day for €25, U12s have free admission. Pre-purchased tickets allow visitors to skip the Q by scanning tickets.)