SHARON Kelly recorded back-to-back wins in the All-Ireland three-year-old final at Bannow and Rathangan Show where the heatwave brought out bumper crowds on Thursday.

Her champion Annaghmore Flo Pleasure (For Kinmar Hero Z) is a half-brother to her 2024 All-Ireland champion Annaghmore Dunkirk (HHS Cornet). Both were bred in Tullamore by Aoife Healion and shown by Shirley Hurst.

This was his second Irish Shows Association final title as Annaghmore Flo Pleasure - from the damline of Marion Hughes’ Flo Jo - had won the Connolly’s Red Mills two-year-old championship at Tinahely last August.

Judges Chris Gordon and Rosemary Connors (who won the 2016 final with the home-bred Woodfield Xtra), had 21 three-year-olds to select from in this final, sponsored by longstanding sponsor Galway Crystal/Belleek China and Horse Sport Ireland, as part of its national showing championship series.

They pulled in Patrick Finn’s Frenchfort Kildysart Lady (Chelis HC Z) top of their initial line-up. It’s now 10 years since Rebecca Monahan’s Notalot became the only filly to win the Bannow final and that feat still stands after equine physio Sharon Kelly’s bay moved from 12th to champion. Bred by Gerard Grace, Frenchfort Kildysart Lady was shown by Philippa Scott, deputising for usual handler Tiernan Gill, who made a welcome ringside appearance. Yvonne Pearson’s home-bred Double Act (Centre Stage) made it two fillies in the top three after she placed third in the final result.

“We came down the night before and just taking a nice couple of days off. It’s a lovely, lovely spot and a very well-run show. The plan now is go to Dublin and we actually gave him a bit of a jump there at the start of the season and he jumps as well. So I’m thinking I’m going to jump him as a four-year-old,” said Kelly about future plans for her second Bannow champion.

A full Bannow report will appear in next week’s issue.