Newcastle West Show Report
Show jumping
The show jumping was again a huge success with competitors travelling near and far to
compete in 16 pony and horse classes. Highlight of the show was a leg of the Munster
Greyhound Grand Prix league where 30 competitors took on course builder James Tarrant's
track. 16 combinations made it through to the jump off which was won by 9 times national
champion Francis Connors from Waterford 2nd place went to Liam O'Meara from Tipperary
and further down the line local man David Moran from Askeaton kept the Limerick flag
flying.
Young Horse Showing
The young horse ring was a hive of activity all day. They were judged by Eamon Foran ably
assisted by Leanne Porter. Their young horse champion was Brian Daly’s very nice bay filly
“Newmarket Caro” sired by their own stallion “Newmarket Venture”. She topped the three
year old class en route to the championship and reserve went to the 2nd placed three year old
William McDonnell’s “Pallas Lux Hill” by “Lux Z”.
Brian Daily's mare “Unchained Melody” by Big Sink Hope went on to take the mare’s
championship.
The X Factor foal class was judged by Dr Jack Murphy. Tom Clancy was rewarded for his
long trip from Stradbally, Co. Waterford to claim the overall title with his very attractive
“OBOS Quality” chestnut colt out of a cruising mare. Runner up spot went to John Ahern’s
“Zirocco Blue” foal. Willie Fahy and Jim Seymour took third and fourth place with two
“OBOS Quality” foals.
The three year old class for horses likely to become a four star event horse attracted an entry
of 43 horses. Matt Ryan the English based, Australian triple Olympic gold medallist judged
the class with enthusiasm and was very complimentary of the standard of horses and the
running of the class. Each horse was shown in hand and loose jumped before he whittled
down his selection to eight who were again judged and the champion was awarded to Ralph
Morgan's filly, “Ruan's Quality” by “OBOS Quality” out of an “Into the West” mare. Denis
and Emily Collins’ “Da Vinci” by Ticallux Verte and Stephen Russells “Ars Vivendi” bay
gelding claimed 2nd and 3rd and both got their tickets for the RDS three year old potential
event horse class. Fourth place went to Anne Cregan’s chestnut by “Future Trend”.
Pony Showing Classes
In the family pony ring top prize of the day, Family Pony Champion was won by Brian White
from Rathkeale riding his pony “Cloongoona Poppy” - Aoife Kirby was Reserve Champion
on “Peter”.
Mini Show Pony Class winners include Tom Kiely Marshall’s “Nantcol Sir Galahad” in the
First Ridden and Anna Quaid from Castletown Conyers riding “Marmite” in her very first
Showing Class won the First Year First Ridden Class.
Winners in Show Hunters Classes include Carol Ruttle’s “Bronheulog Sunny Boy” in Open
133cm and Starter Stakes; followed by Alix Cunneen’s 143cm “Tyn Y Cae Gold Kite” who
also went on to be Champion; and Belinda Johnson’s “Honey Jack The Lad” ridden by Sarah
Healy in the 153cm who also went on to be Reserve Champion.
Working Hunter Pony winners include Mary Roynane’s “Holly Creek Oran Spleandour” in
Starter Stakes and also claimed 2nd in the 133cms, Mel Marnane’s “Rosedust March Mist” in
the 133cms, Sarah Healy’s “Polly the pony” in 143cm,and Con McNamara’s “Mines A
Goodin” in the 153cms.
Champion Pony Of The Show was hotly contested by all the champions from their various
categories. Mayo’s Stephen Gibbons on his mini Show Hunter Pony Champion and Carol
Ruttle on her Starter Stakes Champion gave a great display but the Reserve Champion Of the
show went to Tom Kiely Marshall from Emily riding his Mini Show Pony Champion
“Nantcol Sir Galahad” and Top Prize Of The Day went to Intermediate champion “Cranagh
Warrior” ridden by Askeaton’s Jodie Moran.
Ridden Horse Showing
In the ridden horse showing classes entries were good and competition was hot as
competitors got some of their final preparation before the RDS horse show. Horses were
under the watchful eye of Una O Donnell (conformation) and Anne Marie Prendergast (ride).
In the 4yo class they found their winner in Mary Leonard Blake’s steel grey gelding “Onyx”
by “WRS Sun Rich”, who showed impeccable manners to head the line up. The heavy /
middle weight division saw a good number of entrants forward and Jason furlong riding John
Carlin's “Mongorry Mighty Dan” by Mountain Pearl claimed the red ribbon. He later went on
to claim the ridden hunter championship. In the light weights the ever consistent “Mr
Shakespeare” owned and ridden by Lyndsey O’Brien came to the fore. He was later called
forward as reserve champion. The small hunter was headed by Avril Riordan's “Castlemyles
Killkea Castle”. After lunch judging commenced with the side saddle class which saw Maeve
Carty win the class in style riding “Why Not Batim”. He later topped the line up in the
Racehorse to riding horse class. The Performance Irish Draught class went to Donal Neville's
Cloneyhea Sunshine by Arthurs Gold. The riding horse class again saw the O’Brien sisters of
Suzie (Sweetest Symphony) and Lyndsey (Mr Shakespeare ) claim 1st and 2nd respectively.
Winner in the cob class was Cathreine O'Sullivan's “Paintwork Lad” with second spot going
to Tony Purcell's “Loughmore Danny”. That ring finished off with the coloured class and it
was headed by Shane McKenna riding his father’s “Apache Pinto”. To finish off the day the
horse working hunter classes took place in ring 4. The amateur hunter was headed by Mary
Lynch’s “Tullira Norah” and the open by Gill Langford’s “Ballymolloy Rogan”
ridden by Dominic Furnell. He later claimed the champion with 2nd place in the open class
Aoife Leonard and “Ringwood Liath” claiming reserve.
The super ground conditions received compliments from competitors and all look forward to
2015.
A very enjoyable day was had by all with good entries and a very high standard.
DOG SHOW:
The dog show was very highly contested with 136 dogs entered over 11 classes. The judge
The Very Reverend Father David Gibson had a very tough task in choosing his class winners.
Exhibitors came from far and near to compete for the 2014 Newcastle West Show Champion
Dog and to claim the ‘Pet Barn’ shield. This shield went to Holly Geary of Tralee, Co. Kerry
with her Spanish Water Dog. The Reserve Champion went to Newcastle West Local Darragh
O’ Shea with his Saint Bernard. The Judge complemented each exhibitor and said he did not
have an easy task as the standard of dogs on show was very high. Well done to all who
competed!
Sheep:
The sheep section had some new faces in the ring this year. The sheep section had one of the
biggest sheep shows in the Munster region to date. Limerick based exhibitors done very well
on the day. Champion Sheep went to Croom based breeder Robert Walker with his Suffolk
lamb. The Commercial Reserve Champion went to the youngest exhibitor of the day, Cillian
O’ Brien, Ballysimon with his factory lamb. Diarmuid Keane, Ardagh, a new exhibitor in the
sheep ring scooped up the Reserve Champion Texel with his shearling ewe. The judge
commended all the exhibitors for such an excellent display of sheep. Well done to all
involved.
DONKEY DERBY:
This derby had 6 heats of six donkeys each! The donkeys had to do jumps and take in a bend
en-route to the finish. Again the Donkey derby was a roaring success. The title of Grand
National and the Donkey Derby went to the Newcastle West local donkey “Lynchs Gang”, he
was rode by local Robbie Cronin.