IT WAS the year of View Point, the Banner County-bred that swept all before him on the UK circuit and the hint of green shoots on the show scene.

Balmoral forged ahead with a September ‘Plan B’ date, the Irish Shows Association held two days of several All Ireland finals and new ‘pop up’ shows, such as those hosted at Glandoran, helped fill the gap for exhibitors. The Irish Pony Society championship show, with HOYS qualifiers, took place too in July at Barnadown.

So there were some opportunities for exhibitors and breeders to get back in the show ring. Yet, the question on many exhibitors’ minds this year was ‘Will the shows come back?’ Not since 2001 when the foot and mouth outbreak forced the cancellation of the country’s agricultural shows was there an empty year like 2020. Two years without shows in this millennium is unprecedented.

As Claire Scott said in the recent Goldengrove Ponies feature, “Covid hasn’t helped, people went in different directions with few shows to go to.” Will the same drift applies to committee members and sponsors?

It has been difficult and disappointing for owners who bought foals in 2019 that are unshown since or for riders going over-age in pony classes, however the bigger picture means safety is priority.

The funding provided by the Department of Community and Rural Development, under then-Minister Michael Ring, has left something in the kitty for agricultural shows to reboot with and lockdown timeout may well inspire people to get more involved with their communities and committees, including the local show.

2021 also saw several long-standing Irish Shows Association former presidents bow out, including its first lady president Dorothea Lazenby, David Sheehan, who brought a wealth of legal knowledge to the table and John Browne, along with outgoing board member Valerie Thorington. Their years of voluntary commitment and passion for Irish agricultural shows is immense.

So what was it like being back out at a handful of shows in 2021? Different atmosphere, smaller youngstock classes, bar the more saleable foals and three-year-olds, as some owners couldn’t justify keeping horses in with fewer shows and Covid dominated every conversation. Doubles galore recorded and it proved another excellent shop window opportunity for the native breed Connemaras and Irish Draughts.

What will 2022 onwards hold for shows? Time will tell as we find out way our of a pandemic. For now, here’s a look at some of this year’s champions.

QUOTES WHAT THEY SAID

“I’m just a small breeder from the west of Ireland and to even see a horse you bred here at this show, never mind win his class, is unreal.” – Ciaran Quigley at Balmoral

“That’s what horse and agricultural shows are about for me; bringing grassroots breeders, producers and purchases together to appreciate what they have achieved between them.” - Jennifer Haverty, North Tipperary Show organiser.

“Big time.” - All Ireland final judge Philip Copithorne on whether the Irish Draught was losing their trademark short shin.

“That mare has a heart of gold. 12 foals in a row. If she had a children’s allowance book, Edel could give up the job!” - Matthew O’Meara’s comment about Edel Burke Curtin’s prolific producer Corgrigg Dancer.

“To breed one to win the hunter championship is special to the breeder. Breeding the supreme is the icing on the cake.” Sean Jones, breeder of HOYS supreme champion View Point.