The three-year-old loose performance class was attended by a very enthusiastic crowd, including many breeders and producers of young horses. The class was run in the middle of the Simmonscourt arena, with adequate spectator seating available in the grand stand provided and in the uncovered seating beside the Simmonscourt warm-up area.

The class was judged this year by German show jumping legend Elmer Pollmann-Schweckhorst. The winner of the colts and geldings class was OG Mandino, owned by and bred by Jackie Lee from Headford, Co Galway, with Andrea Etter and Luc Henry’s colt Celtic Hero BZ taking the runner-up spot. The winner is by Numero Uno, out of a Courage Mare. The fillies section was dominated by exhibitor Noel Ruane from Corballa, Co Sligo, and his two fillies by Sligo Candy Boy.

The winner, Castle Candy Flash, was bred by Valentine Maye, also from Corballa, Co Sligo, out of the Ireland’s Pride mare, Diamond’s Blue Pride. This grey filly with four white socks looked sensational and drew a very favourable reaction from the large crowd. The runner-up Castle Candy Crush was bred by Padraic Howley also from Corballa, Co Sligo, out of the KWPN mare Maike, who is by the sire Joeri.