WHAT a glittering week it is turning out to be for Irish breeders, riders, owners and producers alike in Ballsbridge for the 144th Dublin Horse Show and we have a lot more top drawer competitions to come this weekend.

Ahead of the yesterday’s flagship Aga Khan Nations Cup final (see above), Greg Broderick, Shane Breen and Bertram Allen won all of the international show jumping competitions on offer over the first two days to the delight of the crowds, while the excitement for the pony show jumping in Simmonscourt reached fever pitch at times and family memories were forged in the theatre of dreams that is the main showing rings.

The victory of John Roche in Friday’s The Irish Field Breeders’ Championship (see A55) touched many around the ringside in what was the strongest championship in recent years.

Many congratulations to all this week’s winners and their connections and we will have full coverage in next week’s bumper post-RDS issue.

Qualification was particularly tough this year in terms of numbers and the strength of quality forward is another strong sign for the industry.

It’s truly remarkable the range of competition at the show from five-star international show jumping, ponies, busy show rings, masterclasses, racehorse to riding horse, the musical ride, mounted games and of course the hunt chase, showcasing the €700m Irish Sport Horse industry at all levels to its best.

The Irish Field’s Grooms Survey (see A57) makes for very interesting reading and, for the first time, gathered the views and data from those at the coalface of the industry. Some 97% favoured the setting up of a grooms’ association to help represent their interests on key issues such as wages, insurance cover and time off.

Meanwhile experts from worlds of business, academia and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine addressed the RDS Brexit seminar (see A56), urging that racing, bloodstock and the sport horse industry come together in one powerful equine task force to lobby for the special needs of the industry in terms of the free movement of horses when Britain leaves the EU.

Lastly, a very special word of thanks and tribute to all the volunteers at Dublin who put in very long hours over a demanding week just to give something back, but without whom, it would be impossible to run a show of this size and depth.