West Cork exhibitor stops at Belgooly
Sean Prendergast, Rosscarbery won the champion hunter and champion working hunter horse awards with “King Diamond Flag”, and P J Lehane, Clonakilty showed the champion young horse, “Quick Decision.”
The champion brood mare award went to Michael McCarthy, MRCVS, Clonakilty with “Kilangross Twinkle.” Seamus Lehane, Clonakilty showed the champion foal.
Orla Whelton, Clonakilty, won the led pony championship with “Lightening Strikes”, while Mary Blennerhasset, Crecora, Co Limerick, won the champion ridden pony award on “Thorndale Mischief.”
This year the family of past chairman Cecil Gash presented the Cecil Gash Perpetual Cup to the exhibitor of the champion working hunter pony, Michelle Dennehy, Aghabullogue, on “Hollyvale Citation.”
In the Friesian cattle arena, “Cradenhill Nolita,” owned by Peter Kingston, Nohoval, was judged supreme champion dairy animal and best Friesian cow. Well established as one of the top breeders in the country, Mr Kingston also won the champion maiden heifer class with “Cradenhill Dream Prevance.”
Another of the country’s top herds, John Barrett and Sons, Togher, showed the best Friesian heifer in milk, “Laurelmore Hersh Roxie”, and the best Friesian bull calf, “Laurelmore Perstormatic.”
“Nessa Exotic”, owned by William Cotter, Dripsey, was the champion beef animal, while Tim O’Donovan, Dunmanway, won both the best beef calf and best continental calf non-pedigree classes.
The show had more than 800 exhibits of arts, crafts, baking, horticulture and metalwork. Margaret Dwyer, Riverstick won the best individual baking exhibit, while Margaret Twomey, Macroom was the winner of the best fine lace exhibit.
In the dog classes, the best in show award went to “Bob” owned by Ted Cunningham, Church Cross, Skibbereen. Other prizes awarded included one for the “Bonny Baby of Show” - Charley Mulcahy, Ballinhassig.
The “Most Suitably Dressed Lady” prize was won by Charlotte Dennehy, Belgooly, while Jenny McAuliffe, Riverstick, won the best dancer award at the feis.
Fine weather helped to attract a large crowd to Clontead Cross for the event, which has a history spanning more than 60 years.
Show Chairman John Stanley said it was a huge achievement to run the event this year, after the problems experienced in the past few years with weather, foot and mouth restrictions, etc.
“We are delighted to be back in business,” he said, thanking all who made the show a success, particularly new volunteers from the expanding communities of Belgooly, Riverstick and further afield, and the organising committee.
