SPECTATORS at the Irish Draught classes at Balmoral Show next week will lack a great character in Dorothy Ellen Walton, “a woman of great strength, boundless energy and an infectious sense of humour”, as described by her daughter, Romney, in hers and brother Vic’s eulogy at Ellen’s funeral service.

Dublin Horse Show, Horse Sport Ireland stallion inspections... essentially anywhere there was an Irish Draught gathering in Ireland, Ellen was there. She attended the annual inspections at Cavan since they started there in 2010, in the company of constant travel companions Sue Benson, Lucinda Starling and Sarah Ramsden.