THE Galway v Dublin hurling match in Pearse Stadium last Sunday would always be a major draw from Athenry Show’s footfall. However, that other rival to a good crowd - the weather - mostly obliged.

Even if it had rained, an elated Robbie Fallon would have walked on water after Cashelbay Mellow’s supreme Connemara pony championship win, as the Miceál and Evelyn Higgins Memorial Cup, that went along with the title, had great significance for him.

“That was the first thing that hit me. To win the Miceál Higgins Cup was so special, I was like a 10-year-old child. It was a pleasure to say I have his cup for a year.

“I won it with a home-bred pony, the five-year-old Cashelbay Mellow, a very traditional type mare by our own beloved Cashelbay Prince. I didn’t cover her this year, as she’ll go under saddle. She has a lovely dam [Frederiksminde Mellow II] that I bought in Denmark and she won a lot in-hand.”

For years, the late Miceál Higgins oversaw the Connemara classes at Athenry and his easy-going manner and presence is still greatly missed.

“The first time I saw Miceál, I was home from San Francisco and he was judging in Ballinalee,” recalled Robbie, who, like many west of Ireland ex-pats, spent decades working in America.

“I’d never met the man before, then got to know him through Jimmy Canavan. He and Jimmy were great friends, he’d be down in Jimmy’s covering his mares with the great Abbeyleix Owen, one of my favourite stallions. I found Miceál a gentleman, just a fine gentleman and whatever came out of his mouth, you could count on it. His words were just genuine. I had the utmost respect for Miceál Higgins.”

Fallon’s sash collection grew when his Cashelbay Mr Solomons was reserve working hunter horse champion with stable jockey Michael Harty. “He’s by another of our stallions: Seabreeze Mirah out of Cashelbay Saphire (Clover Echo). We’re expecting her to foal any day to Cashelbay Prince.” The champion here was Colie Delap’s Killea Flamenco (Killea Hill View).

Back to the Connemara ring, which attracted a huge ringside gathering. Athenry, the first show of the Connacht agricultural show season, has greatly improved its horse and pony showring layout, with all lined up in a row. It was noticeable how the Connemara sections attracted the greatest number of both entries and spectators, who saw Manor Marble stand reserve champion to Cashelbay Mellow.

“He was bred by Noel Noonan, but owned by dad,” explained Joe Burke. “He’s a son of Manor Duke, who I’ve been showing and he, in turn, is by our Currachmore Cashel. We’re delighted to get Manor Marble back out, this is his first day out since Clifden ‘22, where he won the three-year-old colt class.”

“[Wife] Grace rode Banks Timber to take the Connemara Pony Of The Year at the Northern Ireland Festival, so we’re one win each at the moment, but she has the edge on me with her championship! I’ll be campaigning this lad for the year, just time to get a few more washes in before Westport next week.”

Judges Thomas Conneely and Peter O’Malley had a long day judging and more of their champions included Cathy Snow’s Moorland Snowdrift. She followed her full-sister Moorland My Oh My’s 2023 example by completing a back-to-back Athenry junior title double. Reserve junior champion was Noel Nee’s three-year-old colt Peaceful Spartan.

Perfect Result: Mary Murphy with the Athenry Irish Draught and ridden horse champion Castlegate Perfect Illusion and Judge Danny Molloy \ Susan Finnerty

Champion foal

Owner of the reserve champion foal last year, Eugene Doyle won this year’s foal title with his filly, Clonmore Rose, ahead of Peadar Lydon’s My Connemara Hero.

In the adjoining Irish Draught ring, Danny Molloy had good quality Irish Draught classes to judge and selected Martin Murphy’s home-bred Castlegate Perfect Illusion (Barnaview Grosvenor Star) as his champion. Another four-year-old mare: Marcus Donnellan’s Miss Suileen Bouncer (Moylough Bouncer) was reserve.

“We then did the double with the Athenry champion ridden hunter, must have been the lucky orange socks!” said Mary, Martin’s wife. “I can’t believe it for a four-year-old and I’m really happy for the mare and Martin, of course, as the proud breeder. I’ll go to Ballinasloe [IDHBA Galway branch show] on Saturday and that will do her for now.”

In the following coloured championship, Molloy opted for Cregview Mary as his champion. It was a busy show for her owner, newly-wed Martin McNamara. “We had to divide and conquer when it came to showtime! While I was in the horse ring, my good wife Marilyn was in the sheep ring and we were thrilled to get second place with our Galway ram Skehana, bred by Martin Warde.”

“We couldn’t have been happier with our star, Cregview Mary, affectionately known as Mary Eíle. She was purchased from a good friend, Philip Farrell from Athenry, who bred her from his own stallion Midnight Mint and initially spotted by John Bane, my father in-law, who has a great eye for a horse. He liked her from a foal, as she was so light on her feet and beautifully-marked. We can’t wait to bring her out under saddle this summer. After getting married only a few weeks ago, its been a busy time managing Cregview Farm and getting ready for the shows.”

Danny Molloy with his coloured champion: newly-wed Martin McNamara’s Cregview Mary \ Susan Finnerty

Rescue Ralph

The coloured reserve Ralph, a traditional cob, turned out to be an RSPCA rescue foal and was part of owner Katy Whyte’s lock, stock and barrel move from the UK to Ballyglunin six years ago. “I adopted him eight years ago and moved him over with us to Ireland. He is the perfect pony and my children adore him. This was only his third show ever and it takes me two days of washing and brushing to get him ready for a show. He loves his days out and all the attention from all the spectators.”

Clare Oakes had small classes of young horses to judge. She opted for Claregalway owner-breeder Patrick McGrath’s Smokey Commander, a three-year-old by the beautifully-bred Selle Français stallion Koro D’Or, based across the road from McGrath with Philip McManus.

“That was the first show of the year,” remarked a delighted Laura McGrath, watching on the sidelines. “Westport will be the next stop, then Claregalway the week after.”

The reserve young horse title went to Frank Browne’s two-year-old gelding Cavern Hill Captain (CC Captain Cruise).

A show report is a snapshot selection of the day’s champions and, despite the usual show season issues of late entries and few to zero breeding details in the catalogue (which also hampers catalogue sales), there were interesting Athenry stories. And much debate between Connemara spectators about the hot topic: Clifden Show’s future.

“I’m absolutely delighted to hear it’s going ahead,” Fallon said. “I’ve been going to Clifden Show since I was a child, it’s a special place and it’s where the show should be.”