CLARECASTLE Show has confirmed it will run a Breeders’ Championship at its July event in 2026. Initiated in 2016, one of the Show’s feature classes is the Banner Broodmare Championship. Show chairman Michael Slattery this week confirmed that this will be run in a mare/foal combination format this year to faciliate breeders.

“After the RDS announced its decision to discontinue the Breeders’ Championship, inaugurated in 1985, longstanding exhibitor-breeders expressed great disappointment. For them, it was the pinnacle of the showing season and the flagship of the Dublin breeding classes.

“The void created left several suggesting that Clarecastle might be able to offer an alternative to the Dublin classic,” the Banner County Show chairman said.

“With the breeders of Ireland in mind, the Clarecastle Show Society has undertaken to do just that. This year, on Saturday, July 18th, the popular Banner Broodmare championship will transform into the Banner Breeders’ Championship, with an increased prize fund of €9,000.00.

“The championship will be judged in a combination format and continues the tradition of the much-sought-after Golden Ticket stallion nominations. Thanks to the generosity of this year’s stallion owners, the stud fees on offer already exceed €12,000.

“In addition to the increased prize fund and the 2027 stud fee bonus, there is also the new Fergus Foal Championship, with its own prize fund of €5,000.” (This championship is open to all entries, not solely foals entered in the Banner Breeders’ Championship).

The show committee credited its substantial prize fund largely to Government support, “through the one million euro grant to Ireland’s agricultural shows (introduced by the far-sighted Michael Ring and continued by his successor Heather Humphries and Dara Calleary) and also through DAFM’s generous breeding grants. These grants are administered by the Irish Shows Association and Horse Sport Ireland, respectively.”

“It would be unrealistic to suggest that Clarecastle can replicate the RDS Breeders’ Championship, a special event presented at one of the world’s greatest horse shows. However, breeders will have a new option for 2026 and Clarecastle is delighted to continue supporting the grassroots of the Irish Sport Horse breeding economy.

“We decided to step up and offer breeder-exhibitors, who had already planned for this year’s Dublin event, another option for the show season,” Michael Slattery told The Irish Field. “We’re looking forward to welcoming everyone to the show in July.”