THE second annual Galway Branch Irish Draught Horse Breeders’ Association Show took place on Saturday, May 31st in Ballinasloe Showgrounds. After a somewhat overcast morning, thankfully the sun made its appearance making for a pleasant day’s showing.

Exhibitors arrived from early morning from all corners of Ireland for an action-packed day with a total of 25 classes comprising of in-hand, ridden performance and show jumping. As well as the usual schedule of Irish Draught classes, this year’s show had some new additions in the form of two part-bred classes and two optimum time classes open to all breeds.

The mare and foal classes took place in Ring 1, presided over by Ms Mary Wilson (Wiltshire, UK) and Mr Patrick Traynor (Co Antrim). The Irish Draught barren or stinted mare class was first up, where Pat Finn’s Kentucky Dancer (Scrapman x Bridgeford Stockbroker) took the spoils. A new addition to the schedule, the FBD Irish Draught Small mare class, proved popular with eight entrants and Michael O’Doherty’s April Silver Crest (Beechmore Silver Crest x Fintan Himself) taking the win.

Consistent

The Coffey Construction-sponsored four to nine-year-old mares were next, where the ever-consistent Miss Suileen Bouncer (Moylough Bouncer x Coolcronan Wood) continued her winning streak from Athenry Agricultural Show the weekend before for owners Emma and Marcus Donnellan.

Miss Suileen Bouncer also won the Department of Agriculture-funded mare and foal 60/40, accompanied by her first foal, a colt by Tors Gentleman Farmer. The mare was named champion mare of the show and Supreme in-hand Champion, while Anthony Mannion’s colt foal took the Foal Championship.

Pat Finn from Oranmore with his family after his mare Kentucky Dancer won the Barren/ Stinted mare class at the Galway Branch Show, handler John Burke

Ms Mary Rothwell (Co Wicklow) and Mr Michael Keane (Co Leitrim) judged in Ring 2. The in-hand geldings saw Judith Long’s Abbeyward Max (Castleview Innisfree Farmer) taking the top spot, while in the Irish Draught youngstock classes, PJ and Majella Glynn’s yearling filly Crannaghmore Lucky Dip won her Athenry Mart-sponsored class and the yearling colt or gelding went to Ardrahan man Cathal Egan and his colt by King Elvis x Duleek Hero.

The very large three-year-old filly class saw Robert Storey’s RSS Touching Story (Touch of Emperor x Rosheen Yeats) come out on top, while Liam Lynskey took the three-year-old colt win with Rhynn Blackie Go Lucky for local owner John Niland. The young handler was won by Toby Corbett from Tipperary with his father’s Growhowdy Ceide Prince (Growhowdy Purple Beauty x Powerswood Purple).

In the ridden ring, Ms Lucinda Starling from Wiltshire (UK) judged conformation, while Ms Simone Hession was the ride judge. A very strong ridden mare class was won by Claire Maher’s Gransha Midnight Magic (Lionwood Kinsales Lad x Hillviewfarm Milligan), while the four/five-year-old ridden class went to Amy Grady with her own Murisk Ashlawn Dancer (Farmhill Highlander x Agherlow).

Performance

At the performance end of things, Caroline Lynch riding her own Hio Easter Rose 37 (Moylough Legacy x Clonakilty Hero) won the novice working hunter. In The Timaru Kennels-sponsored four/five-year-old working hunter, Co Clare’s Alan McNulty came out on top with his Scrapman mare, Hollyhock Island Queen, while Sharon Mannion’s home-bred mare SHMA Miss Windgap (Eponastables Uibh Fhaile x Windgap Blue) took the six-year-olds and over, ridden by Lyndsay Casserly, who took Irish Draught Performance Champion of the show.

The part-bred working hunter went to Emily Hogan and Roden Ruby (Mountain Diamond Beowulf). Emily also took reserve part-bred champion, while Tom McNamara’s Shanbally Sat Nav went champion part-bred. Amy Grady and Murisk Ashlawn Dancer went supreme ridden champion of the show.

The final two classes of the day were again new additions to the schedule. An optimal time class was open to all breeds with a €1,000 prize fund and €500 going to the winner, kindly sponsored by Aughrim Stables. Local girl Michelle Geraghty took the top prize with Kieran Egan’s Rooska Fionn.

Hannah Lawless on her pony Derrymullen Louis finished off the day by winning the 11 to 15-year-old optimal time class.