WITH autumn colours starting to creep in, the last stretch of this year’s agricultural shows is underway and Limerick, which unfortunately clashes with Moate, took place last Sunday.

The Rothwell family were divided between the two shows but Derry’s decision to travel to the Limerick racecourse host venue, with Greenhall Wishing Well paid off as the Crosstown Dancer mare won the Limerick Matron title. She later added “the other Croker Cup”, awarded to the overall broodmare champion at Limerick Show, to her collection.

It was third time lucky in the Matron final as the 11-year-old, a grand-daughter of the showring legend Greenhall Cailín Deas, had been the reserve champion on her previous two outings.

In the Limerick Lady championship, for traditionally-bred two-year-old fillies, it was the first of two Mayo wins and another ‘in-house stallion’ as the winning sire last Sunday as Ian Murphy’s Barnaview Dancing Queen took this title. By their own thoroughbred Singing ’N’Dancing, bred by Jim Bolger, she was the All Ireland yearling filly champion last year.

Let's go to Limerick: Seamus Sloyan’s Silver View, pictured here when she won the supreme horse championship at Louisburgh in July, is this year’s All Ireland Irish Draught two-year-old filly

The next two top places were filled by purebred Draught fillies: P.J. Glynn’s Meenie’s Princess and Seamus Sloyan’s Silver View. Both lined out in the All Ireland Irish Draught two-year-old filly final, where Sloyan posted the second Mayo win.

John Crowley’s Gortfree Lakeside Lad colt out of Bridevalley Zara, a Loughehoe Guy daughter of the Breeders’ Championship winning mare Kilshinihan Lass, won another prestigious Limerick cup in the Liam Meade Cup, presented for the champion foal.

Greenhall Wishing Well’s filly foal by the thoroughbred stallion Move To Strike won the Traditional Irish Horse Association (TIHA) overall foal championship for good measure, further repaying the Rothwell’s heroic measures to support both shows.

Reserve in the Limerick Matron was Mary T. Murphy’s Clonakilty Hero mare Ava’s Delight and third was the second home-bred in the top-three: John Roche’s Assagart Fairytale, by Coroner.

Another showring legend in Irish Draught circles, the recently retired Elm View, still made her presence felt in this year’s All Ireland Irish Draught two-year-old final. Supreme champion at Louisburgh for another owner-breeder in Seamus Sloyan, Silver View, the Fast Silver daughter of Elm View looks to be a worthy successor to her three-time Dublin champion dam.

Reserve champion was Mary T. and Ian Murphy’s Cloonacauneen Sally, by Tors Gentleman Farmer and third was P.J. Glynn’s Coolcronan Wood chesnut Meenie’s Princess.

David Fitzgerald, Ballysimon presented first prize in the Young Horse Championship to Caoimhe Mulconroy, Tulla at the 2022 Limerick Show \ Dave Gaynor

Knack for winners

Rebecca Monahan’s knack for finding filly winners continued when she took the Limerick filly title with her Notalie, by Loughehoe Guy, ahead of Maura Crowley’s Jorada filly, a finalist in the potential event horse class at Dublin recently.

The overall Limerick young horse championship went to John Mulconroy’s Lord Mitchell, a Castleforbes Lord Lancer three-year-old that was third in his lightweight class at Dublin. His latest result added to a winning streak for the Tulla owner and his wife Caoimhe McParland, who recently welcomed their second son Donnacha. Both he and big brother Sean were ringside when Caoimhe showed the couple’s Dublin reserve champion two-year-old, the since-sold OTG Killaloe.

Angus McDonnell’s trooper Statesman added the Limerick ridden hunter title to his tally from shows around the country and Sophie Mullane’s Diamond Dream stood working hunter champion.

Ella Deegan’s Clareville Master Craftsman and Mairead Donworth’s Tawnagh Lad won the pony equivalent show hunter and working hunter titles, while more Limerick pony champions included Margaret Doolan’s Muskerry Rolo (mini working hunter), Rachel Lane’s Barkway State Affair (mini) and Cameryn Moloney’s Shannon’s Shamrock (local pony).

(See more on Limerick show from Dickie and Catherine Power on 92).

Griselda Williams, Bruree took third place in the Ladies Side Saddle event at the Limerick Show \ Dave Gaynor