KILMACANOGUE Show was the location for the launch of the 12th IDHBA National Breed Show. Every year this show committee look for ways to grow and improve their show and this year proved no exception.

The brainchild of non other than PRO Eiline Brennan, for the first time in National Breed Show history, there will be a carriage driving class, so it was particularly fitting to hold the launch at Kilmacanogue show where there is always a beautiful display of carriage driving.

At the launch, the show committee welcomed patrons to their marquee with summer refreshments of Mr. Jeffares cordial along with Wexford strawberries and cream.

Miriam O’Sullivan introduced NPA MD Anna May McHugh, who has Irish Draught mares herself, to officially launch the national breed show. Anna May wished the show every success and highlighted to Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Andrew Doyle, who was also in attendance, how important it is to support shows such as this because they rely on so many volunteers to be a success.

Kilmacanogue Show President Harry Williams said his committee were delighted to have the IDHBA present and it was great to see the increased interest in Irish Draughts.

New additions

Una Holohan gave the gathered audience an overview of this year’s show, highlighting the newer classes. New in 2018 and included again this year, is the Premier Mare and Foal class with mares and foals judged 60/40 as a unit. Each of the judges must judge independently and mark each exhibit without consultation with the other judges. There is €1,500 in prize money along with eight stallion nominations for this class.

Another popular new class last year was the Ridden Irish Draught Mares. Additional sponsorship was secured through the HSI Breeding Fund and this class now has a prize fund of €700 including a breeder’s prize of €100.

New this year is Carriage Driving, included for the first time in the history of National Breed Shows. Judged on style and appearance, it is open to any vehicle being pulled by a purebred Irish Draught. There is great interest being expressed in this class with numerous exhibitors expected from far and wide. The class will be judged by Mary McGrath whose late father Joe McGrath was famous for exhibiting four magnificent Irish Draughts under carriage in the RDS.

A performance class for four and five-year-olds, with prize money of €485 has also been added to the schedule.

Another first at a national show will be a Performance Stallion Exhibition. Expect to see younger and older Irish Draught stallions give a performance display over the working hunter course. The organisers expect this to be a real showcase display for all in attendance.

Judges

There is an eminent and vastly experienced panel of judges for this year’s show. Among them Ms Kerrilee Wilson who won the Olympia Supreme Championship riding her home-bred Irish Draught under side saddle, while others have either competed internationally or bred champion horses. The two Irish judges on the panel are the very esteemed Tim Wilson Jnr and Dr Charmaine Kee. The committee believes that having UK judges helps to highlight the quality of our Irish Draughts to a wider audience.

Entries close on August 23rd so once Dublin is over, go online to www.idhba.ie and get your entries in!