The RDS is all about the Irish horse
Chief executive Michael Duffy confirmed the move at last week's show, during which there was a lot of debate around the rings about the state of Irish showjumping and the status of Irish- bred stock.
A number of new and enhanced events were introduced at this year's event to encourage breeders to produce and show quality Irish-bred animals.
Mr Duffy said the show was originally established to foster and promote the Irish horse and equestrian industries. "That's the job of the Horse Show. There is an entertainment event around it as well. But fundamentally, the reason it was started was to foster and promote the industry. One of the things that we are doing is we are looking at the classes, their structures and we are looking at the national jumping as well to see what we can do to make sure that the show remains relevant," he said.
Meanwhile, Connswater River, a chestnut bred by Frances Cleary, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, won the supreme hunter title at last week's show for Team Connswater and Lurgan- based rider Aaron McCusker.
Another chestnut, Redwood Thyme, by Gharbeeb out of Laughton's Clover, bred in Co Clare by John Meade, captured the young horse championship for David and Charolette Kirkpatrick, Comber, Co Down.
The Irish Horse Board- sponsored Breeders Championship had a €20,000 prize fund, quadruple what it was last year, in a bid to encourage more people to show their mares and foals, and to recognise those who keep stock of such high quality that they inevitably rise to the top in showing classes.
The winner of the €5,000 top prize was Jim Tempany, a veterinary surgeon from Skreen, Co Sligo, with Leader Star, an 11-year-old grey bred by Luke Morley in Knock, Co Mayo.
West Cork, a traditional stronghold of the Irish Draught, featured when Patrick Hennessy, Skeaf, Timoleague, won the foal championship, with a filly that has won several top awards this season.
Suzanne Finlay, Augher Castle, Tyrone, won the Irish Draught mare championship, while the stallion award went to Martha DuPont, c/o Antony Gordon, Ballintubber, Kincon, Ballina.
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Jack O Diamonds, Lindy Anstey, c/o Orchard Cottage Stables, Ballykeigle Road, Comber, Co. Down
Connswater River, Team Connswater and A McCusker, Lurgan, Co Armagh (Samuel Ussher Roberts Perpetual Cup, No 19 Perpetual Champion Cup and Galway-Greer Perpetual Champion Cup)
Whats What, June Burgess, c/o Orchard Cottage Stables, Comber, Co Down
Banglestown Imp, Mrs Valerie Breen, Augher, Co Tyrone
Something Special, Rachel Slator, Newtownards, Down (Perpetual Challenge Trophy No 15)
Gosforth Park, Countess Goess-Sarau MFH, Kinross, Scotland
Millemium Cruise, Michael Murphy, Jordanstown, Rathcoole, Dublin
Bow River, Mrs Ann Smurfit, Kildare Country and Golf Club (Joseph Widger Perpetual Challenge Trophy)
Silverstream, Mr and Mrs K Ryan, Oldtown, Dublin (Coote Perpetual Challenge Cup)
Cousane Superstar, Tina Murphy, Ballinascarthy, Clonakilty, Co Cork
Golden Graduate, Shirley Anderson, c/o Orchard Cottage, Co Down (Perpetual Championship Trophy for Ladies' Hunters)
Ringwood Beau, Michael and Peg Leonard, Newcastle West, Co. Limerick
Sharamiro, Valerie McBride, c/o Pheasant Hill Lodge, Ballynahinch, Co. Down
St Helene, Fergus J Crosse, Blackrock, Co Dublin
Leonardo, June Lewis, Ballynahinch, Co. Down (Perpetual Challenge Cup No 27)
Silken Story, Mrs H Troughton, Portadown, Co Armagh
Amarillo II, Dr D O'Connell, 10 Rathgar Avenue, Dublin 6
Exclusive, Gerard O'Gorman, Clones, Co. Monaghan (Perpetual Challenge Cup No 12)
Jack Jones, Desmond Corr, Moy, Co Tyrone
Scarlett O'Hara, Victoria Jenkins, Ballynahinch, Down (Perpetual Challenge Cup No 28)
Theophilus, D A Spencer, Ballynahinch, Co Down
O'Loughlin's Hope, Gerard O'Gorman, Clones, Co Monaghan
Beamish, Heather Flanagan, Donaghadee, Co Down (Perpetual Challenge Trophy No 31)
Leader Star, Jim Tempany, MRCVS, Skreen, Co Sligo (Coote Perpetual Challenge Cup)
Country Times, Desmond Gibson, Dromara, Co Down
Colt foal, Kieran Fahey, Enniskeane, Co Cork
I'm Two Stars, Jim Tempany, Skreen, Co Sligo
Cloneyhea Paupers Sport, Cloneyhea Equestrian Services, Mullinahone, Co Tipperary
Walnut Chase, Julia Crosbie and Rebecca Osborne, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford
Nancy Steele, Suzanne Finlay, Augher, Tyrone (Perpetual Champion Trophy No 2)
Heathcliff, Edward Corbett, Upperchurch, Co Tipperary
Filly foal, Patrick Hennessy, Timoleague, Co Cork (Special Plaque No 3)
Its The Quiet Man, Martha DuPont, Ballina, Mayo (Perpetual Champion Trophy No 6)
Thoroughbred Yearling, Two Year Old or Three Year Old Colt, Gelding or Filly
Tattygare In The Pink, Hurst Show Horses, Lisbellaw, Co Fermanagh (Owen Ryan Perpetual Challenge Cup; Pembroke Challenge Cup and Plaque
Power Blade, Paddy Byrne, Kilmore, Co Wexford (Croker Perpetual Challenge Cup and Medal)
Leader Star, Jim Tempany, MRCVS, Skreen, Co Sligo (Perpetual Challenge Trophy No 11)
Highpoint, Desmond Gibson, Dromara, Co Down (Perpetual Challenge Cup No 21)
Tattygare Look At Me, Hurst Show Horses, Lisbellaw, Co Fermanagh
Electric Flame, Gerard Mullins, Clarina, Co Limerick (Perpetual Challenge Cup No 8)
Tiernan Gill, Ballina, Co Mayo
Jacqui Girl, Valerie McCallister, Lisburn, Co Antrim
Redwood Thyme, D and C Kirkpatrick, Comber, Co Down (Laidlaw Perpetual Challenge Cup; Anthony Maude Perpetual Challenge Cup)
Mr Maloney, Terry Johnston, Portadown, Co Armagh
Regal Robe, William Ryan, Woodstown, Co Waterford
Young Horses - Three Year Old Loose Performance Jumping
Ricardo's Quest, Vincent O'Callaghan, Ennis, Co Clare (Perpetual Challenge Cup No 14)
Celtic Legend, Michelle Dempsey, Kilmallock, Co Limerick (Perpetual Challenge Cup No 30)
Selor Minetsky, Claire Devlin, Enniskerry, Co Wicklow (Hanson Perpetual Challenge Trophy)
Village Linnet, Henry O'Toole, Clifden, Co Galway
Kilbride Pearl, Mrs Carol and Jane Bradbury, Kilbride, Co Wicklow
Eastlands Burniebrae, Mr and Mrs J G Staveley, Langholm, Scotland (Michael O'Connell Perpetual Challenge Trophy)
Currachmore Cashel, Eamon Burke, Castlegar, Co Galway
Blackwood Fernando, Mrs Gill Glynn, Kilternan, Co Dublin
Holiday Out of the Blue, Mrs J E McNeice, Holywood, Co Down
Fionn Mac Cumhaill, Julie O'Brien-Brindley, Dunshaughlin, Co Meath
Valmore Irish Mist, Mr and Mrs S M Taylor, Knocknagoshel, Co Kerry
Kynersley Purple Star, Elizabeth A Power, Sallins, Co Kildare
Celtic Legend, Michelle Dempsey, Kilmallock, Co Limerick
Parkmore Symphony, Paula Desmond Hynes, Parkmore Stud, Dripsey, Co Cork
Roodlebats Sinnitta, Kathleen Reynolds, Naas, Co Kildare (Perpetual Challenge Cups Nos 29 and 33)
Yealand Capulet, Regina Daly, Leap, Co Cork (Special Plaque No 32)
Rockmount Renegade, Verran Moore, Claregalway, Co Galway
Cashel Bay Misty, Robert Fallon, Connemara, Co Galway (Perpetual Challenge Cup No 34)
Chinook Eclipse, John Wixted, Sixmilebridge, Co Clare
Ravara Jack Rabbit, Jeannie Taggart, Ederney, Co Fermanagh
Working Hunter Ponies - Starter Stakes
Jingle Bells, Elizabeth Wentges, Skerries, Co Dublin
Ardfry Ahab, Mrs Linda Young, Maynooth, Co Kildare.
