IT was a damp, zero visibility day for visitors to the Cliffs of Moher, further up the Wild Atlantic Way coastline, but one common denominator for tourists and show committees alike is zero control over the weather forecast.

Not that the weather mattered to the knot of people gathered at the West Clare Show ringside for the judging of the three-year-old championship. Few, bar immediate connections, often know the significance and history of cups presented at shows but everyone gathered there last Saturday for the presentation of the Paddy Downes Memorial Cup knew the late horseman, who passed away in February. “He was a great judge, sometimes I didn’t agree with his decision on the day but afterwards I’d have to hold my hands up and say ‘Paddy, you were absolutely right’ about those horses,” said one exhibitor, recalling how the Kilrush judge had the gift of 20-20 vision when judging. That, plus a reputation for scrupulous integrity and spotting a good one.

Back in 2006, the talk was of Paddy Downes’s three-year-old Dromelihy Imp, so I went to Kilrush to see for myself. And his ‘talking horse’ didn’t disappoint. “He wouldn’t crack eggs the way he floats over the ground,” said the late Neville Lazenby, another great horseman who had produced the Dublin young horse champion Sultan, while watching the pair go on to win the young horse title on home ground that day.

Dromelihy Imp was one of several Dublin prize winners, including Dromelihy Slipper, produced by Paddy, whose son Patrick was competing in Saturday’s show jumping classes. One of the show legends involves a young MHS Going Global depositing Greg Broderick on the ground before disappearing into nearby Tullabrack Lake, from where he was retrieved by his rider.

Paddy Downes 20-20 vision would have spotted his potential too and owners of three-year-olds now have a magnificent cup to aim for at future West Clare Shows.

ADDED to the Banner county show circuit in 2003, West Clare Show undoubtedly benefits from running show jumping classes too. And hosting the final Breeders Championship qualifier attracted additional entries too for its showing classes. Pat Hutchinson and Madeline Gervais had five combinations forward and west Cork raiders filled two of the three coveted remaining places.

In fact, all three mares have been previous Dublin finalists, while Kieran O’Gorman’s Brookfield Miss Lux is out the dual winning mare Kildysert Royale, herself a West Clare broodmare champion for her previous owner, Tom Casey.

P.J Lehane’s P.J’s Dream is the second Lux Z mare put forward from the Kilrush qualifier last Saturday while Dermot O’Sullivan’s Je T’Aime Flamenco mare Aidensfield Flamenco, now with a Tyson foal at foot, won The Irish Field-sponsored championship in 2015.

The homebred Brookfield Miss Lux was also Bernie Stack and Luke Morley’s broodmare champion choice with P.J’s Dream in reserve, while in the foal championship, Lehane’s Womanizer filly returned to Clonakilty with a matching reserve tricolour.

Without a helping hand for Charleville, Gerry Grace’s OBOS Quality colt stayed at home, but came out at Kilrush to win both his class and the overall foal championship.

There was much ringside interest in the three-year-old championship to determine whose name would first appear on the Paddy Downes Memorial Cup and the inaugural winner proved to be Sheelagh Barry’s Darwin.

Foaled during Hurricane Darwin, which hit Ireland in February 2014, the homebred filly is by Harlequin du Carel and won the All-Ireland yearling filly final the following year. “I’m really proud to be bringing home the Paddy Downes Cup,” said Sheelagh afterwards.

Standing reserve, in what was to prove a mirror result of the following young horse championship, was Rebecca Monahan’s Soviet Heather gelding Notamarko, champion at Newmarket-on-Fergus.

It looked at first glance of the catalogue that senior show jumping team assistant manager Michael Blake was wearing yet another hat, but it proved to be a namesake of his that won the two-year-old class with his Dunelight gelding. Flan Corry’s Half Moon Star Dancer and the yearling winners – Kevin Murrihy’s Summertime Cavalier and John Keane’s filly by Sibon W – completed the young horse winners, while adding a splash of colour on a grey day weather-wise was Maria Griffin’s coloured horse winner Drumhowan Lynx, by William Funnell’s former ride Vechta.

Tolan R produced the winner of the three-year-old loose jumping class, judged by Jimmy Flynn and Richard Hourigan. Owned by Aidan Maloney, his winner is from the Namelus R son’s first Irish crop and won this class ahead of Edel Curtin’s multitasking Corgrigg Joules, a winner at Balmoral earlier this year. Alan Russell’s Rehy Valanna, by another young sire Valent, was in third.

“The winner was green but starting improving with every jump,” said Flynn, who owned the brilliant Heather Honey, who he first produced after buying her as a yearling and recalled winning the Grand Prix in Clonmel on the fiery chesnut, beating Con Power who had just returned from winning three classes at Hickstead.