DESSIE Gibson (71), widely regarded as Ireland’s leading exhibitor, passed away on Tuesday at home. A former master of the County Down Staghounds, Dessie followed in his father Hugh’s footsteps at a young age, showing their prolific broodmare Meta II at Balmoral. The same mare won five times at Dublin, a show that became another of Gibson’s annual targets.

All-Ireland finals, Balmoral and Dublin championships galore were won by his impeccably-produced horses; some homebred, others hand-picked at shows or from other breeders around the country.

He won every in-hand championship at Balmoral and Dublin, including the Laidlaw (young horse) and Pembroke (home-bred) titles.

Many of those young horse champions, including Coalminer, Greenhall Treasure Island and Mystery Man went on to further success cross-channel, winning at the Horse of the Year Show, Royal International and Royal Windsor.

Twenty years ago, Dessie won the Breeders’ Championship with Hillsides Amazing Grace and her foal Spin Doctor, while Pink Flamingo (2022) was his most recent Coote Cup (broodmare) champion, adding to a long list started by Meta II.

Started as a cross-border iniative, the All-Ireland three-year-old final at Bannow and Rathangan Show was another main target. The Dromara man won it five times, most recently with Sort Code (2023) and, together with other previous winning owners, was an award recipient to mark the championship’s 25th anniversary.

One of many awards presented to Dessie, a valued member of the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society’s Council and Horse Committee.

In December 2023, Dessie received a Gold Society Award from the RUAS for his 50-plus years as an exhibitor. Just last year, he was presented with a similar award by the RDS for his ongoing Horse Show success and also won another leading exhibitor award that same week.

Dessie will be dearly missed by his family, including sisters Ivy and Lily, his nephews Mark, Simon and Colin, grand-nieces and nephews Bradley, Scott, Bethany, Reuben and Olivia, plus many friends in the horse world, including his right-hand team in the showring in recent years: David Alcorn and Shirley Hurst.

Friends are welcome at his home, Hillside House, Rathfriland Road, Dromara, 3 - 9pm until Tuesday (September 1st).

A Thanksgiving Service will be held next Wednesday (September 2nd) at Antrim and Newtownabbey Crematorium at 1.00pm.

A full tribute to Dessie Gibson will appear in a future issue.