In-hand judges Sylvaine Galligan and Mick McMenamon awarded the supreme championship and coveted Blacksmith Trophy to Sean Dunne from Garryhinch Stud in Portarlington for his quality mare Garryhinch Vanilla (by Monaghanstown Boy out of Banks Vanilla), who has an impressive string of championships to her credit and looks sure to make her presence felt during the coming show season. On her way to the final honours, she won the best class of the day, the four to five-year-old mares, standing ahead of Pat Rabbitt’s Monaghanstown Silver and John Fitzpatrick’s former Clifden reserve supreme champion Irishtown Pippin.

The overall reserve champion sash went to Eamon Burke’s Drumbad Fletcher Moss, who was also judged champion stallion on the day when exhibited by Joe Burke.