With just over a week to go ahead of the much anticipated Ballinasloe October Fair, it is full steam ahead for the committee who are expecting increased numbers in 2017. This year the fair will be opened by official guest Paul Carberry.One of oldest fairs in Ireland, dating back to the 1700s, this unique event attracts a loyal following from all over Ireland and plays an important role in the equine and tourism industry of the region.
With just over a week to go ahead of the much anticipated Ballinasloe October Fair, it is full steam ahead for the committee who are expecting increased numbers in 2017. This year the fair will be opened by official guest Paul Carberry.
One of oldest fairs in Ireland, dating back to the 1700s, this unique event attracts a loyal following from all over Ireland and plays an important role in the equine and tourism industry of the region.
The fair will see traders travelling from all over Ireland and Europe to trade Irish horses. The fair will take place on Sunday and Monday, 1-2 October and on Saturday, 7 October.
On Monday, 2 October the Connemara GalRos Competition will take centre stage. On Saturday 7 October, the mare and foal competitions are expected to attract a large crowd as top mares and foals compete for six titles. Included in these classes is the Irish Draught Brood mare with or without foal at foot and the top Irish Draught Colt or Filly Foal.
The classes will provide an opportunity for breeders to showcase and promote their stock during the fair alongside their dams.
Other equestrian events include the Credit Union Horse of the fair, which offers a prize fund of €1,200, the Jim Derwin Pony of the fair with a total fund of €800.
One day event in Kildare
The Kildare Branch of the Irish Draught Horse Breeders Association is holding a one day event at Marguerite Lodge, Kilteel, Co Kildare by kind permission of the Byrne family on Sunday, 1 October, 2017.
Members of the association and non-members are eligible to compete in any of the three classes:
Class 1: CME Auctioneers Irish Draught class for registered Irish Draught horses of any age.Class 2: Reynolds of Rathbawn TIH class for registered Connemaras, Irish Draughts, thoroughbreds or any combination of these breeds. This class is restricted to horses that have not competed above CNC1* level in eventing.Class 3: SCDH Leisure Horse class for horses with no breeding recorded on their passport.The dressage test for all classes is: AIRC 5 (2013). The height of both the show jumping and cross country phases will be 80-90cm.
The entry fee for members of the Irish Draught Horse Breeders Association is €40 and for non-members it will be €50. There is a prize fund of €250 per class.
You can enter online at itsplainsailing.com/club/idhbakildare or entry forms can be downloaded from the Irish Draught Kildare Branch IDHBA Facebook page and should be sent to Sarah Conway, Orchard Lodge, Calverstown, Kilcullen, Co Kildare.
Entries close 25 September. For more information contact Sarah Conway on 086-100 8574 or email kildareidhba@gmail.com.
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