WITH the RDS now the target for most exhibitors, it was a brave move by the Clarecastle committee to run so close to Dublin’s date and offer massive prize money. But they did and sporting owners took the cottonwool off their horses and set aside unbeaten reputations to travel to the Banner County.

For some mare and foal owners, there was a double bonus at Clarecastle as it hosted both the lucrative Banner broodmare championship and the ISA’s All Ireland colt foal final.

The news of Parkmore Evita’s win in the opening championship was relayed back to her owner-breeder Patrick Wafer by grand-niece Katie and fellow Wicklowman Ivor Kearney, watching at the ringside.

Already a Coote Cup champion (2017) and winning mare in The Irish Field Breeders Championship, the Ghareeb mare had more than earned her keep for her Carnew owner.

That was before Sunday when she added €2,000, plus the €300 breeder’s prize and a free covering to Sligo Candy Boy to her tally.

The reserve champion in the George Chapman and Joe Donoghue-judged event was Margaret and Des Jeffares’s Ballykelly Notalot, by Lancelot. As with the champion and Derry Rothwell’s third-placed Greenhall Push Button, this trio are finalists in the upcoming Breeders Championship.

Fourth in the quality line-up of 18 mares was John Roche’s Assagart Mistress, another former Coote Cup champion, one place ahead of the 2019 winner Susanne Kelly’s Susie’s Diamond Miss.

Kieran Fahey’s good servant Madam Noir, the dam of both Yvonne Pearson’s Kief Queen B and Dessie Gibson’s recent All Ireland two-year-old champion at Tinahely stood sixth in the Horse Sport Ireland, Clarecastle Show Society and Slattery family members-sponsored showcase.

The draw, held before the final verdict, for free nominations to Another Pleasure, Castlefield Future, Denounce, Elusive Emir, Golden Hawk, HSH Harper du Seigneur, Kafka van de Heffinck, Paris Blue Merelsnest Z, Such A Fool and a €600 voucher for Kennedy Equine Centre/Coolballyshan Stud was yet another welcome feature for mare owners.

Walking on air

Veteran exhibitor Michael Dooner was walking on air after a long-awaited win in the Ennis Municipal Authority-sponsored All Ireland colt foal final. The Athlone man has gathered a number of All Ireland traditional foal titles at Mountbellew but this was his first sport horse final win.

It was his bay colt, by the newly-approved thoroughbred Shadow Gate out of the Porsch mare Ravishing Rochelle, that delivered the long-awaited victory in the Adrian Hurst and Clare Oakes-judged final.

Reserve place went to fellow Athlone exhibitor Pat Carty, who has also been edging up the All Ireland placings. His Kings Master mare Master Smooth produced a third-placed colt at previous host show Ballinasloe and this time, it was her Another Pleasure chestnut colt with his unusual blaze marking that took the reserve title.

Third place went to Nenagh exhibitor Adrian Shoer with his Lagans OBOS Quality-Loughehoe Guy colt while that sire’s stable companion Barely A Moment produced Thomas Moloney’s fourth-placed colt. Sold on the day, he is out of one of Jimmy Ryan’s Kilnamac line mares, Kilnamac Katie by Ricardo Z.

Tom and Matthew Newell picked up the best-turned-out prize as well as fifth place with a Financial Reward from another family line of Kilcahill mares. Helen Nyhan O’Driscoll took sixth place with one by new sire Rosier, one of next week’s Croker Cup entries.

Young horses

Traditional young horses classes went out the window at the Clarecastle drawing board stage. Instead there were four championships, leading up to the Horse of the Year overall final. To get into this Brian Boru championship, for which Baron Inchiquin had kindly given his permission to name it after, finalists had to finish in the top four from the morning’s two Irish Sport Horse, an Irish Draught and Traditional Irish Horse sections, all sponsored by Horse Sport Ireland.

Jim Mernagh and Philip Scott assessed the young sport horses while Paddy Joe Foy and Tim Wilson judged the Draught and TIH entries. It was a new approach: a class judged in a championship format with all ages, from yearlings to three-year-olds, pitted against one another.

“There is no doubt offering such an extensive prizefund and creating five new championships for the ISH, TIH and RID was a step into the unknown. It was a risk in terms of the suggested class format and the date being so close to the RDS but the committee felt it was a unique opportunity to show our appreciation for the showing exhibitors of Ireland with new events, prizemoney and prestige worthy of their attendance,” said Shane Slattery, explaining the new concept.

Despite some reservations about the mixed ages, even yearling owners were won over by the prize money on offer, “and the tot of whiskey on the way out!” and once the 16 finalists assembled for the €5,200 Brian Boru Horse of the Year overall championship, each was guaranteed €100 prize money, in addition to their morning’s earnings.

It has been a good year for Tim Carey whose Golden Lariat produced the Irish Grand National winner Lord Lariat and the Tullaghansleek Stud-based pair of Shadow Gate and Another Pleasure producing a one-two in the All Ireland final.

He, together with the shrewd Eyleen Nugent, one of the first to spot the potential of Cavalier Royale on that stallion’s arrival in Ireland, judged this final.

The premise that all championships start from scratch, regardless of where contenders finished in classes, proved true with Finbar McCarthy and Regina Daly’s two-year-old Strike The Pose reversing their earlier class placings with Seamus Lehane’s Ballard Bridge Boy, for the Cork-owned pair to stand champion and reserve.

The presence-filled champion is by the five-star Tyson (sire also of fifth-placed Knockout, the 2019 All Ireland colt final champion here, sold by Patrick Wafer to current owner James Meere), out of the Ard VDL Douglas mare, Ballinlough Daisy Douglas. He was bred by Anthony McCormack.

As a three-year-old, Ballard Bridge Boy won’t lock horns in a direct rematch at Dublin next week. Bred by Patrick Quigley, the Condios gelding is out of the Ghareeb mare Ballard Country Girl, bred by Seamus himself.

Third and highest-placed filly was P.J and Lorcan Glynn’s Loughehoe Guy-sired Crannaghmore Going For One, a model of consistency for the Athlone family this summer and in fourth was the highest-placed traditional-bred. This was Brian O’Donovan’s Fruits Of Love gelding which he had bought as a foal, in partnership with Tasmanian-based cousin Sean O’Donovan, from Kerry breeder Maurice Casey.

Rounding off the top-six was James McWeeney’s traditional-bred by CC Captain Cruise.

“This young horse [Strike The Pose] was a worthy winner of such a prestigious championship and his handler and producer are to be complimented. I would be proud to have this young horse in my field. He also has quality, blood and the step and action of an ‘athlete’, multiple attributes, which lead me to believe going forward this young horse could be anything in the making, be that as an eventer, show jumper or dressage horse. As such, his breeder is to be greatly commended,” remarked Eyleen afterwards.

Yet another stalwart, Peter Molloy bowed out from decades of IPS judging at Clarecastle. Amongst the champions chosen by he and Cathy Cooper, on her first day judging, were the mini champions, Dublin-bound lead rein pair of Woodroyd Flower Girl and Lilly Donohue, ahead of Max Laird and Milford Fair Bronze.

Jess McAuliffe has enjoyed a good run this year with the multi-purpose Ridgehill Ryan, finishing as reserve starters stakes champion to Lucy Townsend’s entry, while Nathali Mulumba’s Coffee Luke Thunder was the hunter pony champion.

What They Said

“Clarecastle was unreal…the atmosphere and enthusiasm of the participants and spectators was palpable and so gratifying to Michael and the organisers I’m sure. Well done to all, best show ever.” - Eyleen Nugent

“The local Clarecastle community turned out in force. We had representation and support from Germany, Scotland, England and the US and to see that eclectic mix of cultures all enjoying the sunshine, food, entertainment and top class competition made all the months of thought and effort more than worthwhile.” - Shane Slattery

“Horse Sport Ireland is funding 55 shows around the country this year, up from about 28 shows. These are all shows that are run by volunteers, like Michael Slattery and his team here in Clarecastle today and without them, none of these shows would happen. It takes a tremendous voluntary effort to do it, a year’s planning goes into shows like this. It’s great for us to come along today, sponsor it and see 18 broodmares but there’s a phenomenal amount of work put into it. I think it’s important as an industry and organisation that we recognise that effort.” - Denis Duggan, HSI CEO

“Only in Clarecastle!” Timmy Wilson’s reaction to the coincidence of two Irish Wolfhounds, entered by the Stritch family in the dog show and ‘borrowed’ for a photo opportunity, strolling by as the Brian Boru sword was unveiled.

“In late spring, we decided to present a show for the benefit of people engaged in the breeding and production of quality horses and at the same time to ensure that spectators enjoyed their visit to the Clarecastle Showgrounds. I believe we achieved our aim by creating new classes, with substantial prize money and other benefits, allied to the creation of a most pleasing atmosphere, in superb surrounds. Today in Clare, everything meshed, resulting in a most pleasing outcome. To all who helped I say Mo Bhuíochas.” - Michael Slattery

By The Numbers

30,000 – euros sponsorship for the Banner broodmare championship, between prize money and stallion nominations.

100 – sponsors names added to the ‘puissance wall’.

18 – months lead time to create the Brian Boru sword. Created by master wordsmith Rob Miller from Castle Keep in Skye, its design replicates the forearm of the horse and the leather colouring depicts Clarecastle’s famous ‘magpie’ black and white colours.

5 – years on the show scene. Clarecastle was first held in 2016.

3 – stalwarts of the Irish horse world honoured during the official opening ceremony: Michael Slavin, the pen and voice of Irish equestrianism; Colin Diamond’s breeder Valerie Thorington and Paddy Joe Foy for their tireless work for Irish shows and traditional breeding.