IT was the weekend of efficient show secretaries and like West Clare’s Bridgette Coghlan, Bernie Whyte puts 100% into organising her local show, the County Longford Show and Country Fair.

This bustling show has settled in well at its new location on the town outskirts and is one of the rare shows that is able to produce a complete catalogue by sticking to its ‘no late entries’ policy.

“The committee prides itself on producing a complete catalogue. We believe it’s only fair to exhibitors and spectators alike, who buy it to take home, to have all the competitors logged in it and as much information about each animal as possible. An incomplete catalogue is a frustration when standing at a ringside and trying to figure out who is who!

“Coupled with this, the cost of producing this catalogue is an enormous expense on the show, not to mention hours and hours of work put into compiling it,” explained Whyte and the Longford policy is one that the visiting Irish Shows Association president David Sheehan agrees with too.

Show jumping is another attraction, particularly in the home county of Eddie Macken and between the jumping and bustling livestock rings, Sunday afternoon spectators had plenty of choice.

Conversely, while ridden horse classes grow in support, the number of young horses continues to decline at most shows. Neil Henry and Christy Tully’s young horse champion from three classes was Alison Rountree’s Kilcloghan Supreme, a Natal three-year-old and in reserve was Michelle McNamara with a Fintan Himself two-year out of her Limerick Matron champion Lady Lariat.

Their Irish Draught champion and reserve came from the broodmare class, won by Ian Murphy’s Clonakilty Hero mare Ava’s Delight ahead of Padraig Bohan’s Coolcronan Wood mare, Gortfadda Ruby. “A real quality mare, what I’d look for in a Draught,” remarked Tully about his champion.

Tully’s home show Roscommon hosts one of the Horse Sport Ireland young handler regional qualifiers in August and another in favour of this new championship is Jane Darragh, who bred Kilmastulla Mr Brixton, the three-year-old champion at West Clare the previous day.

“I’m a breeder myself and we’re getting very long in the tooth and there’s nobody coming along, which is very sad,” said Darragh who selected Kingscourt exhibitor Aine Johnson as the young handler class winner.

Caroline Crosby’s Classic Rath Prince, ridden by her daughter Holly was the ridden pony champion, ahead of Aine Johnson’s Little Rascal. “I’ve had some lovely young ponies here today which we don’t see in IPS classes and I had 10 in the young handlers class which is terrific,” Darragh added.

Gerry Fennell’s Hilin Solace-sired Brookhall Elizabeth won the Welsh in-hand championship with Denis Halpenny’s Section A pony Idyllic Intricate as reserve.

IN-HAND PONIES

Philip Scott, another champion of young handlers classes, sorted the in-hand ponies where his champions included P.J Watson’s Connemara mare Rosscon Queen Aurora.

Bought as a foal by Watson in Clifden, the Rosscon Surprise dun went on to have a successful career in Britain and just arrived back to her ‘boomerang’ Irish home at 2am on Friday morning.

Denis Halpenny’s aptly-named Capall Beag April Fool was the miniature champion and in reserve were the well-turned out Flaherty brothers Oisin and Evan with their Clonevit Candyman.

Alicia Devlin Byrne will have to toss a coin for the next championship as she opted to stay on board the lightweight winner Samual Glen’s Lad, by Callowfeenish Mairtin, for the ridden horse championship. Laura Whyte had deputised on Prince Flagmount which turned out to be Edwina O’Connor’s champion choice. Cyril O’Hara was the reserve champion with his cob winner Stowlin Hero.

Conor Wixted, another Teagasc/HSI young handlers class graduate who also worked for Scottish producer Kirstine Douglas, made his judging debut in the working hunter classes with fellow judge Michelle Connell.

Here, Samual Glen’s Lad made amends with his own title, with Ciara Dennigan as the catch jockey this time, ahead of Leila Oakman on the Prince Of Thieves-sired Its Miller Time.

“Overall I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and judging is something I’d hope to do a lot more of in the future,” Wixted commented, adding that the gallop was the influential factor in their decision.