THE Irish Draught All-Ireland foal finals, held at Ballinasloe Agricultural Show recently, saw the colt and filly foal classes commanding record entries.

Ballinasloe Showgrounds was a great central venue, with competitors travelling the length and breadth of the country. Judges on the day, with national and international experience, were Ms Claire Oakes and Mr Tim Wilson. After much deliberation, the filly foal championship was given to Denis McGrath’s filly Clogher Bonnie, by The Bachelor, having won the IDHS national show filly foal championship at the same venue two weeks previous; this combined with back-to-back wins at Castlerea and Loughrea shows. Coincidentally, the ridden horse champion on the day, owned by Grace and William McMahon, was also a maternal brother by Dunsandle Daimond.

Runner-up in the filly foals was the property of Edward Corbett and sired by WRS Sunrise out of Growhowdy Elizabeth. This lovely free-moving filly was also a winner at Cork Show and champion foal at the recent IDHS at Ballinasloe a few weeks prior.

The All-Ireland colt foal title was won by Linda O’Byrne with her exceptional Inisfree The Holy Grail colt, who this season stood second at Dublin, with a win at Cork Show and Gorey. The dam of this colt, the recently deceased Lilliputs Top Dollar - a daughter of the only stallion ever exported to Mexico, Scrapman - had a prolific showing career for her owners. Runner-up in the class was Julianne Corrigan’s Kildakley Promise, a son of Balcormo Dun Cliff out of Woodtown Lady. This super colt was bred in the purple going back to the legendary King of Diamonds and Uibh Faille 81.

A hotly-contested championship saw the nod falling to the O’Byrne colt Lilliputs Kildare, with the filly Clogher Bonnie in reserve.