The flourishing two-day Charleville Show was summed up best by newly-appointed Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed TD, who said: “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.”

Progeny of Kings Master shone brightest in the Horse Sport Ireland broodmare championship won by John Roche’s former HOYS winner Travelling Solo, with a Kings Master foal at foot. Kieran Fahey’s Madame Noir (Kings Master) added reserve place to her earlier Charleville broodmare title; the Drohan family placed third with Lucys Princess (Power Blade) and fourth place went to another Kings Master daughter in Tom Power’s former All Ireland traditional foal champion, Queenie.

Both this national showing series championship and the young horse classes on Sunday were judged by Henrietta Knight. Her young horse champion was the Twomey family’s Lucky Jack (Grafenstolz) who won an exceptionally strong three-year-old gelding class regarded by Henrietta as even better than its Balmoral equivalent, which she had also judged. Reserve went to Sheelagh Barry’s Darwin (Harlequin Du Carel), last year’s All Ireland champion filly at Kildysart.

Clare champion

Another Clare champion was Gina Heaps colt foal by the Heraldik son, Herald. Proud breeder James O’Keeffe watched Sonny Bill land the Charleville hunter championship. By his own Irish Draught stallion Breeda Mountain, the five-year-old champion, produced by Joanna Jones, was bought from him as a foal by Pat and Elizabeth Ahern. Standing reserve was Ann O’Grady on board Farmhill Clover Tom (Wilmoner). Caitriona Glynn’s Yealand Pilgrim (Whalton High Flyer) made the Galway family’s day when Saturday’s show hunter champion went one better by taking the supreme title with Alannah Glynn in another exceptional championship. Standing reserve supreme was Susie Doyle’s versatile Knocklucas Chloe (Kings Master) who had relished tackling John Fitton’s eye-catching course en route to winning the working hunter title.