Margie McLoone

THE two-day Flavours of Fingal County Show was held in the grounds of Newbridge House last weekend, when the equestrian section was once again run by the Fingal Harriers, namely Helena Dawson, Orla Gannon, Una Mullarkey and Brian Beggan, plus a large team of volunteers.

Few would challenge hunt chair Dawson for fitness, as she was continually speeding off on her bike to attend to one issue or another. She had little time to talk over the two days, but expressed her thanks “to Fingal County Council, who facilitate this fabulous event, to their amazing event management team and top-class groundskeepers, who present the venue in immaculate condition year after year.”

The Council came in for some pre-show criticism, when it announced that the dedicated shuttle bus service to and from local towns wasn’t running this year. This wasn’t an issue for anyone living close to the railway line, after which it was 10-minute walk to the venue from Donabate Station.

There were separate parking areas for the showing and show jumping competitors and these were well away from other sections of the show.

There was a slight change to the layout this year, with the showing classes taking place against the backdrop of Newbridge House. Most of the stalls therefore had been moved to the Walled Garden or the Farmers’ Field, where the cattle, goats, sheep and poultry classes were run by the Fingal Farmers’ Group. They were delighted with the increasing entry from all around the country. Am told the sheep shearing demonstrations attracted a large, interested audience.

While the show is no doubt run in line with best Council practice, most of those in the equestrian section would like to see it start well before 11am.

In addition to hosting the Gallagher Dublin Horse Show side saddle and racehorse to riding horse qualifiers, ‘Flavours’, as it is locally termed, was a qualifier for the Connolly’s Red Mills champion of champions show. This is being staged tomorrow week, Sunday, July 19th, at Barnadown by Showing Ireland, which was represented on Saturday by Angus McDonnell and Majella Gray.