THE Curran family from Moycullen had a memorable day at a wet and windy Ballyconneely Show last Sunday, taking both the junior champion and supreme champion cups back to Glencarrig Stud, where the sire of both champions stands.
The weather gods were not favourable to the west of Ireland venue when, in direct contrast to the day before, relentless rain fell from morning until evening. Luckily, and a credit to the committee, the show grounds were in fantastic order and despite the downpour, underfoot conditions remained good until the end of the day.
Ciaran Curran is unbeaten this season with his daughter Katie’s four-year-old mare Glencarrig Princess Katie, and it remained that way on Sunday when she landed the four to six-year-old mare class ahead of Henry O’Toole’s Castle Charm (Glencarrig Knight – Castle Urchin) on her way to being crowned the overall supreme champion of the show.
Judges Jacqueline Webb and Patrick Traynor, who deliberated long and hard at times, choose the Glencarrig Knight-sired mare as their champion ahead of reserve champion Manor Duke, winner of the stallion class earlier in the day.
The Currachmore Cashel-sired stallion was exhibited as usual by Joe Burke and stood ahead of Antaine O’Cuinn’s Inis Sle Quattroporte (Clonberne Boy – Statholm White Queen).
It was a local win for Tommy Sweeney in the seven to 11-year-old mare class with Silverhill Lass (Dunloughan Troy – Heather Star). He rose from second place in the first pull to win ahead of David Connolly’s Cullanes Princess (Castlestrange Fionn - Shadow Facts).
The numbers in the older mare classes dwindled as the day was coming to a close and just three lined out for both the 12 to 16-year-old class at the old mare (17 and over). However, Caroline Lydon was happy, despite the rain, to win the first of those with her own and Tracy Lydon’s Fuinseog (Currachmore Cashel – Feenish Lady), ahead of Caillin Conneely’s Glencarrig Rose Marie.
Fiona Grimes’ journey from Ballinrobe was worthwhile when she won the 17-year-old and over mare class with Lisheen Star (Glencarrig Prince – Dunlewey Lisheen Liath).
John Roche bred the first and second prize winners in the bay mare class, with the red rosette going the way of Thomas Mullen from Moyard with Truska Bay Princess (Streamstown Mickey – Lemonfield Princess), while the mare’s half-sister, Truska Bay Sunrise (by Rosscon Sunrise), finished second.
Déja vu
It was a case of déja vu when Patrick Curran continued his winning streak with Glencarrig Sea Breeze (Glencarrig Knight – Glencarrig Scarlet) in the three-year-old filly division. In a strong class of eight ponies, Cathal Dunne took the blue rosette with Blackhaven Molly (Clonberne Boy – Fair Ruby).
Philip Morgan travelled from Co Cavan with his three-year-colt Mirah De Goariva (Westside Mirah – Bellview Heather) and he took the top prize in the two and three-year-old colt class ahead of Gerry Martyn’s Killea Legend.
It came down to these two in the junior championship, when the judges left the already dwindling ringside crowd waiting for some time while they deliberated, eventually handing the champion sash to Curran ahead of Morgan.
Another Glencarrig Knight offspring won the yearling colt class – Bernard Keaney’s Murvey Jordan, ahead of Caroline Lydon’s Redpark Mystery Man (Lightening Star – Achill Island Heather).
Robert Nee exhibited his home-bred Glencoaghan Rachel Girl (Innellan Condor - Glencoghan Star) to win the yearling filly division ahead of Marty Sullivan’s Inishnee Blosson (Glencarrig Knight – Laura Lass).
Sired by the late Ballyconneely champion Murvey Rocco, Marty Keaney’s Grey Rock Lily won the two-year-old filly class ahead of Peter Molloy’s Sooneen Jennifer (Dunloughan Troy).
Joe McCann’s Camellia Shadow won a class of 10 colt foals. By his own Hannah’s Only Dun, the colt was then reserve champion to the filly foal winner King Bunowen Castle Timber Star (Banks Timber – Bunowen Castle Star), owned and bred by Feichin and Kerry King.