Hennessy’s grey filly wins title at Bantry
The winner, which had come out on top in the filly class, came into the final with a strong track record having already lifted the 2005 RDS foal championship.
Gillian Black from Donegal and Philip Copithorn, Master of the South Union Hunt, the judges, described the filly by Welcome Diamond out of Suma's Opposition as a very good winner.
They felt the quality of the finalists was generally very high and predicted that they all have the potential to make useful riding horses.
Michael Whyte, Reenascreena, Rosscarbery, won the colt championship with another Welcome Diamond grey, out of the Clover Hill dam, Be My Darling.
This foal was the overall reserve champion.
Fourteen of the top Irish Draught foals in the country competed in the championship, which provides encouragement for mare owners to breed pure Irish Draught foals. There was a great sense of anticipation around the ring as the judges selected the overall champion from the winners of the colt and filly classes.
It was a local duel as they lined up both West Cork-bred Welcome Diamond foals in side view for the spectators.
After careful consideration, Pat Hennessy's filly was awarded top honours. Reserve honours in the colt class went to a bay by Crosstown Dancer out of Crosstown Lark, owned by Donald Mills, Glebe, Bagnealstown, Co Carlow.
Thomas Nyhan, Gairdin Mor, Ballineen, took the reserve slot in the filly championship with his grey by Coolcronan Wood out of his home-bred Fast Silver mare, Gáirdín Mór Silver.
Cork businessman and Irish Draught breeder, Gearóid Wycherley, who is sponsoring the championship, has given a commitment to support this competition for a further two years.
There was success for William Ryan, Ballylangdon, Grange, Youghal, in the Murnane and O'Shea All Ireland three year old filly championship. Joanne Rocca, Finnoe, Ballyhahill, Co Limerick, took the reserve rosette in this 2,000 feature event championship.
Kieran Fahy, Maulbrack, Enniskeane, won the West Cork Horse Breeders foal championship. The 1,000 All Ireland Scotch ram class was won by Dan McCarthy, Coonane, Glengarriff, with the reserve rosette going across the county bounds with Patrick O'Sullivan, Crossmount, Kilgarvan.
Denis Kelleher, Carriganima, Macroom, won the Bantry Hire and Sales sponsored champion Suffolk Ram of the show class. It had a 500 total prize fund. J J Delaney, Cahirbaroule, Macroom, had the reserve champion. Annmarie Prendergast, Rosscarbery, exhibited the champion hunter, with Brid Shannon, Murroe, Co Limerick, showing the reserve champion.
The winner of the young horse championship was Billy Twomey, Leap.
Top prize in the 1,400 commercial beef calf final went to Tim O'Donovan, Gortnmuckla, Dunmanway, with Martin Ryan, Copperfield House, Cabra, Thurles, Co Tipperary, filling both second (reserve champion) and third places.
Breed champions in the cattle classes with reserve champions in brackets were; Shorthorn Jimmy and Linda O'Donovan, Gortnamina, Schull (Gordon Deane, Moreigh, Dunmanway.)
Hereford Albert de Cogan, Killamuckey, Castlemartyr (Frank and John Appelbe, Carrigroe, Clonakilty).
Aberdeen Angus Albert de Cogan (Frank and John Appelbe.)
Belgian Blue John Cahalane, Castlehaven (Tim O'Donovan, Gortnamuckla, Dunmanway).
Charolais Jim and Ivan Ryall, Knockane, Castlemartyr (Patrick A O'Hara, Ballyheigue, Co Kerry).
Limousin James Wycherley, Lislevane, Bandon (James Wycherley).
Commercial Ger Ryan, Rathealy Road, Fermoy (Clive and Rhoda Jennings, Boulteen, Enniskeane.
Simmental John Fox, Daragh, Kilfinane, Co. Limerick. (Keith and Luke Vickery, Carbery Farm, Rosscarbery).
Commercial Beef William R. Gubbins, Cush Hse., Kilfinane, Co. Limerick (John Cahalane) A large crowd attended the show, held at The Beaches by permission of Rowa Pharmaceuticals. G W Biggs were the main sponsors.
