LAST Sunday saw the 95th renewal of Limerick Show, staged as ever on Limerick racecourse. Exhibitors and the general public alike were treated to Mediterranean weather all day.
The connection between the race company and show committee has proven fruitful over the years and, with the show now in its fourth year with local hi-tech company AMCS as anchor sponsor and also supported by the McManus family, it goes from strength to strength.
There were a plethora of events and exhibitions to keep the huge attendance entertained, including a dog show, a display of hounds by the famed Co Limerick Foxhounds. Hounds were looking a picture with huntsman Fergus Stokes and debutante whipper-in young Peter Kiely. While it may be his first season with Limerick, he has already a couple of seasons under his belt as amateur whipper-in with Duhallow.
For many, the high point of the show was Liskennets Equine Therapy Centre classes, who do such outstanding work providing equine therapy for children and adults with autism/disabilities and their families. The show committee feel privileged to be able to provide a platform for these riders to showcase their skills, with Enda Bolger and Derek O’Connor and many other helpers, they had a terrific day at the Limerick Show.
Show jumping
Show jumping, ably run this year by David Moran from Askeaton, was again a great success. Deelside saddlery Amateur class, which is the first leg of the McDonogh League, was won by Denise Moran on Golden Glow with Lorna Conroy second.
The Widdess Fitzgibbon Pharmacy €1,000 1m class was won by Maeve Coffey with Butler Jones and Derek Bourke second. The Hanley Donnellan Auctioneers 1.10m was again won by Maeve Coffey with the ever-faithful Butler Jones with Sophie Mullane second. The class sponsor Bill Hanly MFH had to be called from the horse rings to present the prize, where he was busy as chief steward of the ridden hunters.
The Dunraven Cup for the Champion Hunter of the Show was won by Angela Taylor (Castleturvin Rhona); with Reserve going to Camilla Kear with Mairead English’s (MFH) Dash Bouncer.
The trophy was presented by the great-grandson of the show’s founder, Sir Francis Brooke of Royal Ascot, whose family sponsor the hunter classes.
The Open Connemara Pony Ridden class was won by Sue Ann Foley’s Thorndale Melody ridden by Cara Foley of Islanmore; with Eimear Gabbett’s Dungaire Mick ridden by young Ally Gabbett in second; and Marie McCartan’s West Coast Larry (Leah Woods) was third.
The classes with which Limerick Show will ever be associated are the TIHA Limerick Lady and Matron Championships. The TIHA Matron Championship was won this year by Derry Rothwell’s Greenhall Push Button by Financial Reward - dam by Colin Diamond.
Smashing filly
Coming second was Loretta Hanley’s Be In The Moment Elm by Barely A Moment - dam by Was Sun Rich. The prestigious TIHA Limerick Lady Championship was won by Brendan Newell’s Kilcahill Ruby, a smashing filly who also took home the TIHA Supreme Championship with the Lady Hemphill Cup and the Michael Mac Ewan Silver Salver for the breeder of the Supreme Champion. Reserve Supreme Champion went to Aidan Williamson’s KSF Wedding Bells, an outstanding yearling filly by CC Captain Cruise.
The TIHA Best Foal was Aileen Dywer’s foal by Robin de Pres, with Niamh and Darragh Glynn’s foal by Elusive Emir.
All in all, the show was a great success with the large and appreciative crowd basking in the late summer sunshine.
To finish off a near-perfect day was a visit to the owners and trainers’ bar, where a jazz band entertained well into the evening.