Compared to the pre-Christmas cold snap, the 2016 agricultural show season started on a damp note with Newmarket-on-Fergus and Thomastown, then wrapped up its horse classes when Ballinasloe braved the elements in September. Expect Ballinasloe to retain this earlier date and several more shows to switch dates in 2017.

“Keep the country’s agricultural shows going” was the main message from Irish Shows Association president Pat Corbet at the association’s Sligo-hosted AGM in November, where he advised smaller shows to keep within budgets. One cost-cutting measure that never works for shows is dispensing with catalogues.

The once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of covering the Rio Olympics for stable companion newspaper The Irish Field meant missing some summer shows for this correspondent. However, there were still plenty of stories and highlights in 2016.

Year of the Youth

Brian Murphy and Mary Rothwell lived every show hunter exhibitor’s dream at Dublin when they landed the Dublin supreme and reserve champion hunter titles with Fort Knocks, owned by Pat Loughlin, and the homebred Greenhall Wishing Well. Smiles were just as wide in the Dublin lead rein class, where Ethan Ruttle and Anna O’Connor won red and blue rosettes with Treowen Ranger and Muskerry Polo.

Bargain Buys

As Notalot, the big winner of 2015, proved, champions can be found at bargain prices. The Roche family’s Assagart Kingstead Fiona, this year’s Dublin Irish Draught mare champion, is one example. Another was the Twomeys’ three-year-old Lucky Jack who notched up a number of wins.

Doubles

The Hermes de Reve filly foal Mellow Lane, John and Julia Crosbie’s sixth generation home-bred, notched up a Dublin/All-Ireland foal title, a double matched by John Bracken’s Irish Draught filly by Scrapman. She is out of Uibh Fhaile Duchess, who won a HSI Breeders Award for Noel C Hamilton.

Slatequarry Sasha also earned a HSI award for breeder Moira McKelvey after her Coote Cup and The Irish Field Breeders Championship success at Dublin for longtime owner Paula Howard. Her sire Ghareeb also produced Parkmore Evita, the Balmoral broodmare champion for the Wafer family.

It’s a Long Way For Tipperary

From the Michael Grace-bred Horse of the Year (HOYS) champion Rathnaleen Gothic, another successful year for Goldengrove ponies, to hosting the new Irish Horse Gateway foal championship, the Premier County had an outstanding year in pony breeding.

Show Of The Year

Several strong contenders, including the superb Bannow & Rathangan. The pick has an equally dynamic committee, from octogenarians down to toddler apprentices, that took two packed days and extra red tape in their stride: Charleville.

Farewell

This year the show ring lost one of its greatest supporters in Amy Brown, who bred many champions. The Lisburn lady often accompanied daughter Ruth on her judging engagements and was proud of relative Ashleigh Skillen, MHS Going Global’s former groom.

Des Noctor, who stood eventing and show horse sires Cult Hero and Emperor Augustus (sire of 2016’s Balmoral and Dublin young horse champion Emperor’s Touch) was another to pass away.

They broke the mould after Leader Star, Jim Tempany’s lovely mare who broke broodmare title records in 2010, while Danny Molloy’s much-loved Baltydaniel Silver Queen, his 2015 Dublin winner, will also be missed.

What They Said

Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed: “Agricultural shows such as Charleville are a wonderful opportunity for rural communities to hang out their brightest colours and showcase the best of what rural Ireland has to offer agriculturally, commercially and socially.”

Aidan Williamson, after winning the HSI All-Ireland young handler final at Dunmanway Show:“It was so lovely to be congratulated by so many of the people I have been watching and learning from over the years.”

Irish Shows Association president Pat Corbet: “The child with the six queen cakes is as important as the owner of the champion heifer or Irish Draught mare.”