Two of the region’s top yards were represented, however, with the Comber-based Martin & Walsh team taking the in-hand honours with their Balmoral champion, Classic Choice. A bay gelding by Emperor Augustus, the three-year-old was bred by Pat Gore out of the Kings Master mare Jockeyhall Touch Of Class.

The reserve champion was Dessie Gibson’s winning two-year-old, Duckett’s Grove, a son of Kings Master out of a Courage mare who was making his debut on Saturday and took the first qualifying spot for the all-Ireland championship at Tinahely in early August.

There were no yearlings forward nor were there any broodmares present.

In the ridden hunter section, Lynn Spence partnered her own Mr Brightside to claim the middleweight class en route to championship honours. A four-year-old by Shannondale Sarco St Ghyvan, the bay gelding is the second foal out of the 2005 Master Imp mare Killer Instinct.

Erin Corbett was on board the reserve champion, her own Carnsdale Corbiere, winner of the small hunter class. This well-known grey is an eight-year-old by Coille Mor Hill out of a Welcome Diamond mare. Corbett’s sister Shannon landed the riding horse class with her Crusheen Comet eight-year-old, Masserene Doran Grey.

Ann O’Regan’s hugely popular Barnstormer won the regular cob class while Micahael Smyth topped the line-up in the maxi cob section with his eight-year-old Irish Draught gelding Beechhill Flagmount, a grey by Welcome Flagmount.

Clive Johnston’s six-year-old grey gelding Anton Dancing Romance, a son of Small-Land Tapdance, claimed a major scalp in Joanne Harper’s Ravara Benjamin when winning the open show pony championship.

Alison McClenaghan’s Wyndham Hot Gossip, by Willowcroft Regal Bronze, was crowned open show hunter champion ahead of the Dugan family’s 133cms class winner Silverstone.

Jayne Moore’s Lisa’s Dream could only finish third in the open 153cms working hunter class but won the novice division and the eight-year-old Templebready Fear Bui progressed from there to land the championship. Standing reserve was Alison McClenaghan’s 143cms winner A Bit Of A Pickle.

In addition to the ridden division, there were in-hand classes for show ponies, show hunters, Mountain & Moorlands, Welsh, Shetlands and Connemaras. There was also a dedicated miniature horse section.