The show ring was a hive of activity for the young horse classes, where judge Eamon Foran was ably assisted by Leanne Porter. The champion title went to Brian Daly’s bay filly Newmarket Caro (by Newmarket Venture). The filly topped the three-year-old class en route to the championship while the reserve spot went to William McDonnell’s Pallas Lux Hill (by Lux Z).

Daly again emerged victorious in the mare championship with his Unchained Melody (by Big Sink Hope) claiming the top spot.

The Dr Jack Murphy-judged foal class saw Tom Clancy rewarded for his long trip from Waterford when he claimed the overall title with his very attractive chesnut cold (by OBOS Quality, out of a Cruising mare). Runner-up spot went to John Ahern’s Zirocco Blue foal while Willie Fahy and Jim Seymour took third and fourth place respectively with two OBOS Quality foals.

YOUNG HORSE

The three-year-old class for horses likely to become a four-star event horse attracted an entry of 43 horses. Matt Ryan, the England-based Australian triple Olympic gold medallist, judged the class with enthusiasm and was very complimentary of the standard of horses within the class.

Each horse was shown in hand and loose jumped before he awarded the title to Ralph Morgan’s filly Ruan’s Quality (by OBOS Quality, out of an Into the West mare). Denis and Emily Collins’ Da Vinci (by Ticallux Verte) and Stephen Russell’s Ars Vivendi bay gelding claimed second and third place to their tickets to the RDS.

The family pony champion went to Rathkeale’s Brian White riding his pony Cloongoona Poppy while Aoife Kirby, on board Peter, took reserve.

Mini show pony class wins went to Tom Kiely Marshall and Nantcol Sir Galahad in the first ridden class while Anna Quaid, riding Marmite, claimed the win in the first year first ridden class.

Meanwhile, the show hunter classes proved extremely competitive with Carol Ruttle’s Bronheulog Sunny Boy claiming victory in the Open 133cm while Alix Cunneen’s Tyn Y Cae Gold Kite claimed teh 143cm and went on to be champion. Belinda Johnson’s Honey Jack The Lad, ridden by Sarah Healy, won the 153cm, and also went on to be reserve champion.

Working hunter pony classes were well represented with Mary Roynane’s Holly Creek Oran Spleandour taking the starter stakes while Mel Marnane’s Rosedust March Mist won the 133cms. Sarah Healy’s Polly the pony emerged victorious in the 143cm and Con McNamara’s Mines a Goodin took the top spot in the 153cms.

The champion pony title was hotly contested from each of the various categories with Cranagh Warrior, ridden by Jodie Moran, taking the top prize while Tom Kiely Marshall and Nantcol Sir Galahad.

RIDDEN HORSE

In the ridden horse showing classes the competition was hot as participants got some of their final preparation before the RDS horse show.

In the four-year-old class the judges found their winner in Mary Leonard Blake’s steel grey gelding Onyx (by WRS Sun Rich) who showed impeccable manners to head the line-up.

The heavy/middle weight division saw a good number of entrants forward with Jason Furlong, riding John Carlin’s Mongorry Mighty Dan (by Mountain Pearl), claiming the red ribbon. The combination later went on to claim the ridden hunter championship.

In the light weights the ever consistent Mr Shakespeare, owned and ridden by Lyndsey O’Brien, came to the fore and he was later called forward as reserve champion.

The small hunter was headed by Avril Riordan’s Castlemyles Killkea Castle and the side saddle class saw Maeve Carty take the win in style riding Why Not Batim. He later topped the line-up in the racehorse to riding horse class.

The performance Irish Draught title went to Donal Neville’s Cloneyhea Sunshine (by Arthurs Gold) while the riding horse class again saw the O’Brien sisters of Suzie (Sweetest Symphony) and Lyndsey (Mr Shakespeare) claim first and second respectively. Winner in the cob class was Catherine O’Sullivan’s Paintwork Lad with the second spot going to Tony Purcell’s Loughmore Danny.

The coloured class was won by Shane McKenna riding Apache Pinto while the amateur hunter was headed by Mary Lynch’s Tullira Norah and the open by Gill Langford’s Ballymolloy Rogan ridden by Dominic Furnell.

He later claimed the champion with Aoife Leonard and Ringwood Liath taking reserve.