Athlone

AS the old adage goes: “If you want something done, ask a busy person,” and Roscommon schoolteacher Melissa Glynn fits the bill as she has taken on the equine section secretarial role for the upcoming Athlone Agricultural Show (Sunday, June 18th).

This year’s show, which takes place at Garnafailagh (N37V252), will have five show rings for its horse and pony classes with a range of qualifiers and championships.

“We have an Irish Draught mare and foal class, with large prize money. In addition to the equine section, there’s the return of cattle classes to the show and a Best Dressed Lady competition, sponsored by the Wineport Lodge,” said Melissa.

The St Comán’s Wood Primary School teacher has also had her own opportunities to dress up for an occasion as she is Ballinasloe Fair & Festival’s reigning Queen of the Fair.

Crowned before the fair’s 300th anniversary last October, Melissa will have more official duties to carry out, after her secretarial task at her local show is complete.

“Like Ballinasloe Fair, we’ve been going to Athlone Show for years. Usually my family are busy showing horses and ponies and I just thought I’d like to give something back to a show from the other side of the ring.

“It’s been a learning curve for sure and a real insight into the work that goes into putting together a show,” added Melissa.

A previous participant in the Teagasc ISH Young Breeders programme, Melissa placed third in the HSI All Ireland young handlers’ championship in 2019. Hosted that year at the national ploughing championships, she showed the family’s home-bred Near Dock filly Crannaghmore Pearl.

Ballina

From one 300th anniversary to another, Ballina celebrates the tricentenary of the north Mayo town’s foundation this year. And like Athlone, there’s another youthful element in the organisation of the main show jumping event - the Jack Dodd Tribute class - at Ballina Agricultural Show next month (Sunday, July 9th).

There’s a special poignancy to Grace Kelly’s involvement with the feature class. “I started running the class in 2019. It was a class close to my heart as Jack was a childhood friend. And I knew Jack’s parents - David and Trish - just as long as him.”

David and Trish Dodd with Pataire Crawford and Jackstar, the winners of the Jack Dodd Tribute Class at Ballina last year \ Susan Finnerty

Jack, who tragically passed away five years ago after a road accident in Belgium where he had built up his own show jumping yard, was hugely popular.

“Jack brought such joy and friendship to so many people,” said Grace. “Jack’s class is a 1.10m speed class with an optional joker fence and a €3,000 prize fund. A donation from the class is always made to the Jack Dodd Foundation. Good friends of the Dodds and neighbours have always sponsored the class and this year, it’s Cllr Seamus Weir and John Duffy of Mercury Fuels.”

Both Cllr. Weir (Non Party), the current Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council, and John Duffy live in Foxford. In fact, John lives in Coolcronan House, close to the Dodds and for his co-sponsor, it’s been a busy year for Ballina, topped by US President Joe Biden’s visit in April.

Joe Blewitt, the US President’s cousin is another Ballina Show sponsor and the annual show coincides with the River Moy Weekend, part of Ballina 2023’s calendar of events.

And there’s another US link - just last month, Grace’s daughter Hannah was handed Bruce Springsteen’s guitar, picked by ‘The Boss’ himself at his RDS concert!

Clarecastle

The prize fund for the Shannon Connemara Pony Championship at Clarecastle Show (Saturday, July 29th) has been finalised, making this new championship one of the most lucrative on the circuit.

Clarecastle goes ahead on its new 10-acre site, against a backdrop of the restored 13th century Norman castle that gave the town its name. And the good news is that any GAA fans amongst Clarecastle showgoers, that are fortunate to have All Ireland football final tickets for the following day, will have extra pocket money as once again, a voluntary contribution at the show gate instead of an admission charge applies.

In the Connemara Pony Breeders Society (CPBS) centenary year, the addition of the Shannon Connemara championship to Clarecastle’s schedule is an apt one. As is show secretary Nichola Shannon’s surname!

At the launch on the Clare Castle grounds of the new Shannon Connemara Championship are CPBS President and Clareman Dave Sheedy, Robbie Fallon who owns the reigning Clifden supreme champion Cashelbay Kate, Newtown Figaro with his owners Roisin and Darach Dobson and the Slattery family: Michael, daughter Orla, sister Betty and son Shane \ Susan Finnerty

Cannonball was the first Connemara recorded in the CPBS studbook in 1926 so it was fitting to have several cannons on display in the courtyard of Ger Halpin’s beautifully-restored castle complex of luxury holiday accommodation.

Or that some of the show jumpers owned by Clarecastle Show chairman Michael Slattery’s family are the cleverly-named Clarehall Kannanball and Clarehall Kannan Law.

The inaugural Shannon Connemara championship grand final takes place at the end of five classes. Each class - one apiece for two and three-year-old colts/geldings, then fillies of the same ages, followed by a broodmare class and two ridden classes for four and five-year-old geldings and mares with different rider age categories (under and over 16), has a handsome prize fund of €600.

Classes in the Shannon Ring start at 10am sharp and the overall Connemara champion, selected from the five winners, will also have the opportunity to parade with the overall Brian Boru young horse champion.