THE August bank holiday weekend saw both of the Irish Shows Association two-year-old old finals take place on opposite sides of the country. First of the All Ireland titles to be decided was the Clare Oil, Banner Contractors and Kildysart Show Society two-year-old filly final, hosted at Kildysart, which was also part of Horse Sport Ireland’s showing series too.

Judged by Siobhan Madden and Ann O’Grady, for whom clean, unblemished limbs was their priority, their champion was Coolmeen Winalot with the locally-bred Lancelot filly bringing off a back-to-back double for local man Tom Casey. Tom had won this final last year with his Financial Reward champion and this year’s winner was bred near Kilrush by Gerry Markham, who, incidentally once owned Arraghbeg Clover. He had bought Greg Broderick’s future WBFSH five-year-old Lanaken champion Arraghbeg Clover from her breeder Agata Leonard as a foal.