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The weather forecast for Thursday of Show week was bad and the actuality was worse as the rain pelted down for a good 2 hours that morning. It was not a good day either for showing in the ring or for sitting ringside. It was to remain a day when waterproofs leaked and umbrellas dripped waterfalls. However the Show went on as usual and the few in-between dry periods were a bonus.
The young stock classes were well filled and Judges Jane Andrews and Roger Joyce had their work cut out making their difficult choices until they had finished the judging of the Junior Championship. Their Junior Champion came from the ranks of the 3yr old Mare Class which had 12 entries. This was Carraroe’s Peter O’Malley’s attractive Sunhill Robin by Laerkens Cascade Dawn out of Meelicksland Daisy.
The Reserve was the 2yr old Colt winner, a rich bay, aptly named Illaunurra Bay, by Castleside JJ Junior X Illaunurra Heather, and bred and owned by Ballyconneely’s Pat O’Neill.
The Foal Championship went to Silver Bert a son of Currachmore Cashel and Silver Star V, owned by Hubert Flaherty of Corrandulla.
Reserve Foal champion was Felim Finnegan’s filly foal. Glasson RR Dex is by Dexter Leam Pondi out of Railway Run and hails from Athlone.
The Supreme Champion of the Show came from the Stallions over 7 Class, which sported a 12 strong group of magnificent specimans of the breed, and was won this year by Kevin Bolger’s 13 yr old Gorteen Cathal by Coral Dun out of Gorteen Star.
The combined Judges panel including Judges Micheal Higgins and Kenneth Kyne then choose as their Reserve Supreme the winner of the class for Mares 4 and 5 years old, Kingstown Diana by Linsfort Barney. Her owner/breeder Malachy Gorham will well remember the day just five years ago when Kingstown Diana’s dam, Kingstown Dana, was the Supreme Champion of Clifden.
The Ridden Class Champion in ring 2 was Niamh Melody’s 4yr. old Nire Valley Belle by Fredericksminde Hazy Match out of Nire Valley Laurin, classically well ridden, and in a snaffle bridle, by Susan Cleary.
The Reserve Ridden pair were the former Olympia duo of Henry O’Toole’s Cashelbay Joe (Village King X Mountain Ash) and local girl Emma O’Toole, who had earlier won the Riding Class for 16 to 21 year old riders.
Ridden Class Judges were Siobhan Naughton and Matthew Laurence.
The following Gallery (all going well) shall contain other In-Hand and Ridden winners of this years Show. Also some 2nd prize-winners and others.
GALLERY
