US PRESIDENT Joe Biden, who claims Ballina roots, is rarely out of the headlines these days. Ballina agricultural show, on the other hand, just quietly puts on its big day every July and, like its Longford cousin the previous Sunday, had a great family atmosphere with music and up-close show jumping action.

Scarce broodmare and young horse entries – the theme of 2024 – were evident again, although not through the lack of effort by Brian Finan, judge Tim Carey’s steward. Carey found his mare champions in the Murphy family - Martin and Mary - pair of Castlegate Dead Ringer (Sligo Candy Boy) and Castlegate Perfect Illusion (Barnaview Grosvenors Star).

“I named her the day Meatloaf died,” said Mary, explaining the champion’s name while her stable companion, with Mary aboard, stood reserve ridden horse champion to Lauren Sweeney’s Ballina back-to-back champion, Stanley.

Anthony Gordon’s Heartbreaker Boy (Vancouver) has been busy, qualifying last week for the Dublin loose jumping and winning both the Enniscrone and Ballina classes too. Plus, he was Ballina’s young horse champion, ahead of the Sligo Candy Boy yearling filly, owned by Anthony Gill on the countdown to his local show next Saturday (July 27th): Crossmolina.

Mother-and-daughter team Jackie Hockley and Jenny Lindsay had an enjoyable day in the pony ring, where their tricolour Connemara and pony winners were the home-bred pair of Laura and Roger Brady’s Vinura Ella (Glencarrig Knight) and Marian Judge’s Waterglades Heidi (Waterglades Gemini).

Reserve champions were Ballymac Dawn (Bunowen Paddy), owned by Amy Phelan (whose local show Louisburgh takes place tomorrow) and Annette McMullon’s first ridden winner Hollycreek Sir Sidney, piloted by her daughter Caitlin.

It seems like yesterday that 13-year-old Ellie Rogan was in first ridden classes. Last Sunday, she was competing Lates Sparkey in the popular Jack Dodd memorial class in the adjoining ring, cheered on by parents, J.P. and Cathy.

“Jack and Ellie’s uncle Myles, J.P.’s brother, were best friends,” said Cathy. “It really is hard to believe that only a few years ago she was hanging off her daddy’s arm, now... flying down to big fences!”