The last of the Irish Shows Association finals took place last Saturday in Ballinasloe Show grounds. Roisin Gannon, Inverin’s own ‘Katie Taylor’, landed the first championship of the day with her Clifden Sales buy Glencovitt April un the three-year-old Connemara filly final. This final was sponsored by Parkmore Stables and Fr Christy McCormack and was judged by Jimmy Canavan.

Glencovitt April is by Canal Fred and was bred by John Crawford.

In reserve was Noel Mahon’s Rathkeery Lady Katie, by Western Boy. Third place went to Olivia Kealey’s Slieve Rushen Pearl, by Glencarrig Ri, bred by Tony Maguire.

Clara lady Anne Rabbitte won another Irish Draught final here and the Pat Carty perpetual cup, this time with her Carrickcottage Star colt, Springvale Dawn Rose which was the judge’s overall Draught foal champion ahead of Tom Mooney’s Fintan Himself filly, a big winner this autumn. Springvale Dawn Rose is by Carrickcottage Star.

Reserve in the colt foal class went to Padraig Fitzpatrick’s colt by Millhollow Stroller, with Jim Quirke’s Rathcoona Paddy, by Ceide Prince taking third.

The filly foal champion was Tom Mooney’s by Fintan Himself.

Reserve in the filly class was Eddie Murphy’s Inisfree The Farmer’s Daughter, by Tors Gentleman Farmer.Third was Adrian Burke’s filly by Dunsandle Diamond.

The Irish Draught finals were sponsored by Horse Sport Ireland and were judged by Thomas McCrann and John Walsh.

SWEET SUCCESS

There is nothing as sweet as the first All-Ireland title and Castleblakeney owner Frank O’Dowd, who recently turned 90, also tasted success when his Ballinrobe Girl won from a group of well-tended donkeys.

The class was sponsored by Gerry Stronge and John Harney and was judged by Ernie Somerville. In reserve was Michael Foley’s Betsy, by Digger Barnes, bred by Sean O’Neill.

Third place went to Deirdre O’Laoi’s Cloncoe Fiona.