SHOPPING at Rolex Kentucky is part of the tradition for its annual pilgrims and Dubarry, Horseware and Irish Horse Gateway were amongst the tradestands.

Horse Sport Ireland’s Sophie D’Alton and Rossa Gallagher were on duty at the Irish Horse Gateway stand after a 36 hour-journey, due to flight cancellation and delays, to reach Lexington.

Also travelling over were Tim Bourke’s parents Victor and Fiona, from Westport, who met their grandson Senan. Tim and his wife Marley’s four-month-old baby, seen sporting a Team Ireland Equestrian custom jacket, became the Irish mascot at Rolex Kentucky when Tim also led a course walk on Friday evening.

Business was particularly brisk at the Dubarry stand where its US General Manager Danny Hulse was upbeat about their market.

“We’re now very strong in menswear stores too, as well as our traditional core. A lot of raw materials are bought in dollars so it balances out,” he added.

Dubarry, founded in 1937 by Jim Scott in Ballinasloe, sponsored the turnout prize at the first trot-up (won by Allie Sacksen, who competed the half-Connemara Sparrow’s Nio, and Boyd Martin) and the Nations Cup event.

This was won by the US team of Boyd Martin, Hannah Sue Burnett and Philip Dutton, with an honourable mention going to the combined ‘Mexiland’ team of Tim, Aidan Keogh and Daniela Moguel, from Mexico.