Summer Show takes stock of success

HORSE and cattle exhibitors from various parts of the country have always kept faith with the Cork Summer Show and they maintained that tradition at this year’s two-day event at Ballintemple Showgrounds over the weekend.

The organisers reported that the 400 horse and pony entries in the equine section included animals from as far away as Down and Cavan, as well as from Dublin, Wicklow, Wexford and other regions.

Equine Committee Chairperson Phyllis Lynch said the Cork Summer Show, which was first held 166 years ago, has always enjoyed a big reputation as a showcase for quality young stock.

“A win or a placing at Cork means something special to breeders and that’s one of the reasons why we get entries from all over the country,” she said.

Apart from increased horse and pony entries this year, there was a special treat for National Hunt racing fans when Moscow Flyer, the now retired two times winner of Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham, made a guest appearance yesterday.

Some of the leading cattle breeders competed for honours in the various breed championships.

In the dairy rings, John Barrett and Sons, Togher, won both the supreme Holstein Friesian championship and the reserve rosette.

Judging in the beef breeds resulted in one of the championships (Belgian Blue) being won by Thomas and Helena Cody, Cashel, Pilltown, Co Kilkenny.

Gerard Murphy, chairperson, Munster Agricultural Society, organisers of the show, said many questions have been asked over the last few years about the future of the event.

“The show is alive and well and making its come back,” he said, explaining that next year’s event is already being planned and will, with support, be bigger and better.

Mr Murphy said this year thanks to key sponsor support from the businesses of Cork the prize fund was in excess of €42,000, making it the biggest in the history of the event.

The programme was in reality only the first two days of the show as the jumping is set for Sunday July 29 while the Inter Hunt Chase is on September 16. Howard Holdings plc was the main sponsor of the weekend events. Others included the Irish Examiner, which sponsored a Pony Festival on Saturday, as well as photographic and painting competitions open to all primary school children in Cork city and county.

Full results will be published in the Farming Examiner on Thursday.