THE Mill Road Summer Show was held in the beautiful setting of Tipperary Equestrian Centre where the Ryan family provided not only a top-class venue but also outstanding hospitality and catering.

With the use of both the enclosed grass arena and the show jumping arena, competitors and spectators alike enjoyed a fantastic day of sport and community spirit.

In the 70cm and 80cm show jumping classes, Mill Road’s Alice Fitzgerald delivered impressive performances aboard the ex-racehorse Loaded, taking home first place in both classes. The pair also placed third in the Treo Eile-sponsored Racehorse to Riding Horse show class.

Faith Morris competed in both showing and jumping and emerged as the winner of the Open 80cm class.

In preparation for the RDS qualifier, Golden Grove’s Fergus Ryan and Mill Road’s Carly Walsh produced strong winning rounds in the 90cm and 90cm Open classes, respectively. A thrilling head-to-head in the 1m class saw Niall Molloy (Golden Grove) come out on top over Jennifer Denny, representing Mill Road Riding Club, who made a welcome return to the saddle following an injury.

Mill Road’s Megan Sheedy claimed victory in the 1m Open class, followed by Linda Harney and Boomerang Breeze in second and Sara Kerwick of Mill Road placing third on her new mount, Autumn Breeze.

Showing highlights

In the afternoon, the arena was transformed into a working hunter performance track. There was a slight delay before proceedings could begin, as even the hard-working judges needed a chance to eat and recharge before the next phase.

Winners in the working hunter section included Coco Doran and the ex-racehorse Briar Hill, Aileen Dwyer on reserve champion show horse Diamond Dungar Quality, Kelley Ann Byrne and the lovely home-bred Inisowen Lady who is by her mother’s resident stallion Inisowen.

Neasa Haverty, representing Rock of Cashel, topped the leaderboard in the 1m Working Hunter class.

The showing classes were well-supported and full of quality. Emma Meagher claimed the win in the Small Hunter class, while the Coloured Horse title went to Calliaghstown Nakiska, an RDS-placed horse ridden by Mary Clare Race. Carly Walsh took home the red ribbon in the Lightweight Hunter class.

Coco Doran topped the Treo Eile-sponsored Racehorse to Riding Horse showing section and Aedin Morahan secured victory in the Connemara Pony class.

In the Riding Club Horse class, the win went to Catherine Kelly and Baby Shark, while Joanne Flaherty claimed the top spot in the Novice Showing class.

The showing classes concluded with championship honours going to Hanna Bjoremark Deegan riding Cian, who was crowned overall showing champion, with Aileen Dwyer on Diamond Dungar Quality and representing Anvil Riding Club named reserve champion.