NOT even the release of the House of Guinness could keep the crowds away from Ballinasloe two-day Show held at the Showgrounds on September 27th and 28th. The dynamic show committee and trustees represented by Father Christy McCormack, Gerry Stronge and Peter O’Connor saw Ireland’s longest running show this year expand to become a two-day affair. A winning recipe of fine weather, overseas judges, record entries, community involvement and passionate sponsors was the tone of the weekend.

Saturday classes

Saturday saw Cumbria-based Angela Heginbotham judge the Keith Clogher All-Ireland three-year-old registered Connemara gelding class, won by Grace Maxwell Murphy’s Addrigole Lorenzo, who is by HOYS finalist Manor Duke. It was the first time out for this lovely free moving pony that Maxwell Murphy plans to have out under saddle next year. Reserve in the class went to Jimmy Naan’s very smart Balinalee winner Galloon Barney.

The Tony Downey show cob of the future was judged by Julie Marchant of Hortons Show Cobs and her champion was the Whelan family’s two-year-old Silverado, described by the judge as a top-class heavyweight show cob in the making. Taking the reserve slot was Aughrim Stables in a hotly-contested championship with The Masterstroke, a four-year-old heavyweight by Granite Hero, who stood third at Dublin this year.

Loose Jumping

Leading sponsor of the show John Kearney for the third year sponsored The Equitrans All-Ireland Loose Jumping horse and pony competitions. Equitrans received the horse transporter of the year at the Equine Awards NI in 2024. Charismatic Kearney spoke about the high standard and quality of animals presented. He said it was a credit to Ireland’s breeders and producers to set the bar so high. The competition was judged by leading show jumper and producer Damian Griffin and UK-based producer Katie Heginbotham, a lady who is no stranger to the winner’s enclosure at HOYS and the Royal.

Horse champion went to Gabriel Slattery’s four-year-old by the now sadly passed Acorad 3 out of a dam by CC Captain Cruise and the pony champion, Glenamaddy Lord of the Whisper, was owned by Tommy Duffy and expertly produced by Michael Caulfield and Shane O’Brien. A find on social media by the owner and a son of the legendary Pumkins Pondi, this colt has a bright future with a dam line going back to Westside Little Madam.

Day two saw well-known Irish producer and competitor Chloe Lacey judge the show ponies and her champion, rounding off a fantastic season, was Camilla Kelly and Talgarth Casper. Reserve in the section was Sinead Healion.

The in-hand Connemara classes were judged by mother and daughter duo Angela and Katie Heginbotham, and this fielded some very strong classes. Their champion on the day was the very true to type Ballinytemple Tara, a granddaughter of Clifden supreme champion Currachmore Cashel, who had a super colt foal at foot on the day by Bay Shadow. Tara had already stood supreme champion at Cork show earlier in the season. Owned by west Cork-based Jackie Keohane and shown and produced to perfection by her husband and son. In Jackie’s words, ‘daydreams do come true’.

Reserve in-hand Connemara, led by local in-hand showing supremo Lorcan Glynn, was a lovely young filly by Gwennic owned by Seamus McEvoy.

All Ireland EquiTrans Horse Transport loose jumping pony competition winner Glenamaddy Lord of the Whisper with (L-R) Damien Griffin, Judges John Carney Snr and Katie Heginbotham, sponsor John Carney with daughter Faye, Tommy Duffy, owner, and Shane O'Brien, handler \ Gerry Stronge

Ridden Connemaras.

The ridden Connemara classes were judged by Aubrey Chapman who, incidentally, was judging at Horse of the Year Show this week. Aubrey was joined on the day by his partner Becky, and the novice class fielded a very strong entry with many Dublin qualified ponies forward. Aoife O’Connor’s North Cottage Star JJ took top position here, expertly piloted on the day by her daughter Sadhbh. Star is a son of former Kiladeer stud resident stallion Abbeyside Silver. Second in the class went to Sabrina McClumpha with her Athlone show champion Killameestia Prince, also a Dublin finalist.

It was a long trip from Inishbofin that morning for mother and daughter team of Nikola and Kitty Concannon with Cornfield Cressida as she finished her novice ridden season on a high by winning the open Connemara ridden champion at Ballinasloe. Cressida was already a winner at Balmoral and is a daughter of Tempo Active Atlas sourced from Moorland Connemara ponies and bred by Brian O’Rourke. Reserve in the section went to North Cottage Star JJ.

Young horses and broodmares

The young horses and broodmares were judged on the day by Julie Marchant, and she was joined by Duncan MacFadyen, a well-known event horse producer. Their broodmare champion was Alannah Glynn and Catriona Glynn’s Ballycreen Illyria. Grace Maxwell Murphy and William McMahon were to the forefront again in the filly class as they stood champion with Gleann Rua Selines Pashmina by Chillout and a maternal sister to their supreme hunter champion at Balmoral this year. Their plan is to have this filly at Dublin next year. Reserve in the filly championship was Sabrina McClumpha’s Casallco out of a mare by Rockrimmon Senator.

The gelding championship was won by Aughrim stables with their classy three-year-old RID gelding Something To Remember by Carrabawn Cross out of a Crannagh Hero mare.

Ridden horse championship

The ridden horse championship, sponsored by Jim Derwin equestrian, was won by William McMahon on Clougher Rebel. Owned by American Stacey Pawlowski, he was bred by Denis McGrath and his dam also produced the reserve All-Ireland Draught foal champion on the day. This was the four-year-old’s first day out and the reserve spot on the day went to Aughrim stables again with The Masterstroke.

Working hunter classes on the day were kindly judged by Nicolas Byrne and, with a technical course, Aoife Fahy went champion with Kate O’Dea in reserve. Champion Connemara was Laura McGrath with Lucky Escape and Aoife O’Connor took reserve with Hawthorn Lass.

Three-year-old filly

The All-Ireland three-year-old Connemara filly championship, sponsored by Parkmore stables and Fr Christy McCormack, was judged on the day by Liam Walshe and Penny Campbell. Their champion, owned by Niamh Philbin, was the filly Beechmount Gentle Ellie who is a granddaughter of Hazy Match and her dam, who was bred by the late John McLoughlin, was closely related to former Dublin and Clifden winner Gentle Wren. Reserve in this section went to Sinead Lusby McGrath and Lucky Bonnie, sired by Drumbad Fletcher Moss.