After two years the show scene was back in full swing in 2022. Red rosettes and championship sashes were gathered from the local pony class to the Sean Jones-bred View Point’s supreme title at the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS), sales were made and friendships rekindled over a ringside cup of tea.
The Department of Community and Rural Development funding, plus Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) breeding grants provided a financial reboot for agricultural shows.
CLIFDEN DREAM: Robbie Fallon and wife Barbara (straight off a flight from San Francisco, where the couple emigrated to, built up a successful family business and now retired back to Athenry) take their place in the Clifden parade with their supreme champion Cashelbay Kate. \ Susan Finnerty
Arva Show’s Raymond Brady succeeded Irish Shows Association (ISA) president Catherine Gallagher and there were countless golden moments throughout the summer.
It was the year that several show queens retired at the top, including Patrick Wafer’s all-conquering Parkmore Evita and Seamus Sloyan’s triple crown winner Elm View.
FIRST AND LAST: Great showing supporter Tiernan Gill and his Flogas Oilily won at Newmarket-on-Fergus and Ballinasloe, the first and last of the agricultural show season fixtures. \ Susan Finnerty
On the other human side, the election of Ireland’s youngest show secretary Colin Doyle, and Tiernan Gill’s delight when his son Alex pipped him in the Louisburgh young horse championship, were ‘next generation highlights.
Looking back through the season’s albums, many highlights shine through.
That group shot of Team Ruttle at Charleville - Joan Ruttle could have bought an air fryer or any other lockdown fad, instead she bought Harlequin Charm and qualified her for the Breeders Championship; the pride on Bernard Killeen’s face whilst leading Edel Curtin’s horses; the electric atmosphere of the big ring in Bannow before the ‘off’ in the All Ireland three-year-old final.
BUBBLIEST CREW: A surprise presentation for Jenny Glynn (second left) from her West Clare Horse Show teammates Nikki Johnson, Simon Clancy and secretary Bridget Coghlan for breeding Capels Hollow Drift, the 5* event horse. He went on to finish second at Burghley and featured amongst the top-six Irish-breds that won the WBFSH eventing title back for the Irish Sport Horse stud-book.
Then there was Gleann Rua Da Vinci, William and Grace McMahon’s home-bred supreme champion hunter, pictured at the first agricultural show outing at Athenry.
There’s thousands more. Here’s a small selection with one whittled down as my Photo of the Year and the summer’s Outstanding Show. See you ringside next year!
TEAM TIERNEY: Bloomfield Watergate, the All Ireland and Dublin champion, with producer Jane Bradbury, handler Michael Lyons and owner-breeder Daphne Tierney at Bannow & Rathangan Show. \ Susan Finnerty
Photo of the year
No need for any ‘explanation’. Just look at the joy on Frances and Barbara Hatton’s faces after their Gibeon brought the Croker Cup to Slyguff Stud.
Show of the year
If there was one show that read the ‘Opportunity to Redesign Showing’ memo during the two-year COVID-19 layoff, it was Clarecastle. It bounced back in July with an imaginative format, free admission and classy finishing touches.
MESSRS. SLATTERY & SLAVIN: The winning combination of Clarecastle Show chairman dynamo Michael Slattery and Michael “The Irish Horse” Slavin.
After two years the show scene was back in full swing in 2022. Red rosettes and championship sashes were gathered from the local pony class to the Sean Jones-bred View Point’s supreme title at the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS), sales were made and friendships rekindled over a ringside cup of tea.
The Department of Community and Rural Development funding, plus Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) breeding grants provided a financial reboot for agricultural shows.
CLIFDEN DREAM: Robbie Fallon and wife Barbara (straight off a flight from San Francisco, where the couple emigrated to, built up a successful family business and now retired back to Athenry) take their place in the Clifden parade with their supreme champion Cashelbay Kate. \ Susan Finnerty
Arva Show’s Raymond Brady succeeded Irish Shows Association (ISA) president Catherine Gallagher and there were countless golden moments throughout the summer.
It was the year that several show queens retired at the top, including Patrick Wafer’s all-conquering Parkmore Evita and Seamus Sloyan’s triple crown winner Elm View.
FIRST AND LAST: Great showing supporter Tiernan Gill and his Flogas Oilily won at Newmarket-on-Fergus and Ballinasloe, the first and last of the agricultural show season fixtures. \ Susan Finnerty
On the other human side, the election of Ireland’s youngest show secretary Colin Doyle, and Tiernan Gill’s delight when his son Alex pipped him in the Louisburgh young horse championship, were ‘next generation highlights.
Looking back through the season’s albums, many highlights shine through.
That group shot of Team Ruttle at Charleville - Joan Ruttle could have bought an air fryer or any other lockdown fad, instead she bought Harlequin Charm and qualified her for the Breeders Championship; the pride on Bernard Killeen’s face whilst leading Edel Curtin’s horses; the electric atmosphere of the big ring in Bannow before the ‘off’ in the All Ireland three-year-old final.
BUBBLIEST CREW: A surprise presentation for Jenny Glynn (second left) from her West Clare Horse Show teammates Nikki Johnson, Simon Clancy and secretary Bridget Coghlan for breeding Capels Hollow Drift, the 5* event horse. He went on to finish second at Burghley and featured amongst the top-six Irish-breds that won the WBFSH eventing title back for the Irish Sport Horse stud-book.
Then there was Gleann Rua Da Vinci, William and Grace McMahon’s home-bred supreme champion hunter, pictured at the first agricultural show outing at Athenry.
There’s thousands more. Here’s a small selection with one whittled down as my Photo of the Year and the summer’s Outstanding Show. See you ringside next year!
TEAM TIERNEY: Bloomfield Watergate, the All Ireland and Dublin champion, with producer Jane Bradbury, handler Michael Lyons and owner-breeder Daphne Tierney at Bannow & Rathangan Show. \ Susan Finnerty
Photo of the year
No need for any ‘explanation’. Just look at the joy on Frances and Barbara Hatton’s faces after their Gibeon brought the Croker Cup to Slyguff Stud.
Show of the year
If there was one show that read the ‘Opportunity to Redesign Showing’ memo during the two-year COVID-19 layoff, it was Clarecastle. It bounced back in July with an imaginative format, free admission and classy finishing touches.
MESSRS. SLATTERY & SLAVIN: The winning combination of Clarecastle Show chairman dynamo Michael Slattery and Michael “The Irish Horse” Slavin.
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