IT was a major undertaking by the RUAS to run a four-day show but one that paid off. The usual clockwork-run event with its dollop of Northern humour, was a socially distanced, sanitised and vaccinated affair this year.

Two notable back-to-back championships were recorded at this livestreamed event by Regina Daly and Daphne Tierney, the respective owners of Balmoral champions Say No More (Chillout. Breeder: Anthony Sheridan) and Bloomfield Distinction (O.B.O.S Quality. Jim Seymour).

Daly’s three-year-old, sold over the phone afterwards to top UK owner Jill Day, stood youngstock champion ahead of Claire Shearer’s home-bred yearling and filly champion Oakleys Lady Captain (Clonaslee Captain Cristo).

Heavyweight champion Bloomfield Distinction went on to claim the supreme championship, partnered by Jane Bradbury making a return to the showring after an injury.

Taking the reserve supreme tricolour was Roisin Drury’s middleweight Ballarin Fionn (Mountain Diamond. Ronan Kelly) whose jockey Nicola Perrin also recorded a double with Keith Martin’s small hunter champion Made To Measure.

OBOS Quality also sired the working hunter champion – Declan O’Neill’s Ratheoin Quality Imp, bred by Sean Barron – and the Irish Draught performance champion, Nigel and Charlotte Moore’s Tully’s Cherry (Skip And Sea), produced by Sammy Weston, was the fourth generation of Balmoral champions for her proud owner-breeders.

Another pure-bred Draught champion at Balmoral was Pat Loughlin’s Peaky Blinder (Rockrimmon Silver Diamond), winner of the cob championship and one more successful south-east raider was John Roche’s home-bred broodmare champion Assagart Fairytale (Coroner).

Connemaras had a field day too with Marjorie Hardiman’s home-bred Creggana Dandini (Cashelbay Prince) winning the working hunter pony championship under Jane Field at Balmoral Park and Grace Murphy won the ridden championship with Stevo Finn’s Addrigoole Andre (Frederiksminde Hazy Match).