THE Wicklow branch of the Irish Draught Horse Breeders Association held its annual show in glorious sunshine in Boswell Equestrian Centre, Ashford, Co Wicklow last weekend.

This marked the first year that the show included Traditional Irish Horse classes, with the aim of increasing entries on the day. The ridden classes were very well supported but unfortunately it is a sign of the times that fewer youngstock are being brought to the shows.

The first classes of the day were the led classes for breeding mares and both classes were well supported when under the scrutiny of English judge, Pete Crafts from Yorkshire.

The first championship of the day was the Cullen Communications Broodmare Championship and this was won by the stinted mare Bannvalley Mandolin, a five-year-old owned and exhibited by Pat and Miriam O’Sullivan from Co Wexford.

Reserve was the winner of the broodmare with foal at foot class, Daniel Molloy’s home-bred 11-year-old mare Ballydaniel Silver Queen. Both mares were quality Irish Draught mares with plenty of substance.

Ballydaniel Silver Queen’s foal won the Bloomfield Sport Horses foal championship, with George Webster and Mary Chapman’s foal taking the reserve place.

OVERSEAS JUDGE

Irish Draught youngstock classes were judged by another overseas judge, Victoria Cobham, and her chosen champion in this section was Joanne O’Connor’s unnamed three-year-old filly by Huntingfield Ruler. Joey Moore took the reserve spot with his two-year-old gelding Rathmore Diamond by Mountain Diamond.

The ridden classes had very good entries and were sponsored by Frank Payne and Deirdre Lynch and judged by Mary Ann Casey and Michael Kirwin. Their ridden champion was Epona Stables Solo Warrior, a six-year-old ridden by Barry Higgins with the reserve being Una Holohan’s seven-year-old mare Ellistown Roxanne, bred by Peter McLoughlin.

Gain Horse Feeds sponsored the Traditional Irish Horse championship and this was won by Mary Rothwell’s three-year-old Greenhall Violet.

The supreme championship was sponsored by a new equestrian business , Grange Fort Equestrian Enterprises, a new venture for John McLoughlin, Frank Payne and Deirdre Lynch who together have set up an equestrian centre in Drumshanbo, Co Leitrim.

Specialising in buying and selling quality and safe horses for the amateur/pleasure rider, the trio are also qualified to take BHS candidates and liaise with Enniskillen College to take students for work experience.

The supreme champion was the winner of the barren mare class Bannvalley Mandolin, a mare who was also placed in the ridden class. Reserve supreme was the winner of the ridden championship Ebona Stables Solo Warrior.

The committee would like to thank all their sponsors and supporters who were present on the day and to all volunteers who helped before and during the show.