The Papal visit had an impact last Sunday on agricultural show attendances. However, Clonakilty exhibitor PJ Lehane was blessed with an All Ireland win at Moate. His Munther filly saw off the challenge of 18 other foals to take the A. Browne final, part of Horse Sport Ireland’s showing championship series.

Philip Corithorne and John Fee judged the first of the ISA’s 2018 foal championships. The pair made sweeping changes to their initial line-up.

Moving up from fourth place was Lehane’s Dublin-winning filly, sold this summer to Niall O’Donovan, who showed her Lux Z-Big Sink Hope dam P.J’s Delight in the Moate final.

Retaining second place was Oranmore breeder Pat Finn with a Chillout-Lux Z filly and promoted from the back line was Darragh Glynn’s Elusive Emir-Aughrim Knight entry, the sole traditional-bred in the top-six.

Practical aspect

“It was a very competitive class,” commented Fee, a Tyrone-based farrier. His close scrutiny of the foal’s limbs had a practical purpose.

He explained: “We didn’t just look at them as foals today but we looked at them as horses for the future; that would go on, be sold, stay sound, pass x-rays, pass vets and have a future.”

His co-judge agreed: “No foot, no horse.” Copithorne was also concerned about some over-fed youngstock he had judged this summer and the detrimental impact it had on their joints.

More champions at Moate, where a presentation was also made to long-standing exhibitor Michael Dooner, included another Athlone owner P.J Glynn winning the young horse and filly championships with his three-year-old Crannaghmore Pearl (Near Dock).

Pat Hoare’s Moylough Pearl (Agherlow) won both the Irish Draught and open broodmare championships, while the Irish Draught champion was New Ross exhibitor Martin Egan’ Archie The Great (Moylough Bouncer), a three-year-old colt approved at this year’s Cavan inspections.