Connors stable shows its class
Rosemary also took the reserve championship with Golden Bud, a five-year-old gelding owned by Kilmacthomas veterinary surgeon Paddy Cotter.
Golden Bud also won the Robin Hunt Memorial Trophy for the champion working hunter at the show, which was held at Cappagh.
In the broodmare rings, the quality and the quantity were high. Jim Lynch from Ballylemon, Cappagh, retained the Observer Cup with his nine-year-old Eagle Flight, and went on to have a great show by also winning the foal championships and qualifying for the Tullamore Dew Broodmare All Ireland Championship.
The thoroughbred broodmare classes were excellent. In the Beeches Stud class, Grand National winning racehorse trainer Jimmy Mangan from Conna, Co Cork, showed a really nice Dr Massini mare to win one of the much sought-after nominations.
Greg Stafford from Kilmore, Co Wexford, made his trip worthwhile by taking the second nomination.
In the Goffs champion broodmare class, 21 mares came before the judges. Jean and Erica O’Brien, Derrygrath Stud, Cahir, took the honours with their six-year-old Ballyrobin, while Ballycleary, exhibited by Greg Stafford, Kilmore, Co Wexford, was once again runner-up. Local man John Kiely, Kiladangan filled the third spot with Windy Bee.
John also took sixth place, and Michael Dalton kept the Modeligo flag flying when he took seventh place.
In the foal section, Jean O’Brien’s filly took first place, while success in the colts went to Greg Stafford.
Seamus Lehane, Clonakilty, took the young horse championship in style with his two-year-old Watervallley Good Guy, defeating an attractive three-year-old exhibited by Ardmore man Pat Keating.
Another Clonakilty exhibitor, Michael McCarthy, MRCVS, won the yearling championship, and also the filly championship for young horses, with Killnagross Isabella, by Big Sink Hope.
The pony championship went to Ballyporeen, Co Tipperary, when the Michael Steyn-Keating owned veteran show pony JJ Punch won, with the Wexford owned Moelgarneed Swin filling the reserve spot for Atlanta Cahill, Barntown, Co Wexford.
In the working hunter pony championship, young James Burke from Gliddane Stud, Dungarvan produced Midnight Whisper to win, while in the hotly contested Eamonn Dwane Cup for the champion local pony, Karen O’Keeffe from Bonmahon, riding Bustin Bob, defeated young Nicholas Connors, Spring Hill Dungarvan, riding Spring Hill Sparky.
The Devereux Menswear Bronze went to Charlotte Hatton from Fethard.
In the cattle rings, the Glanbia Super Cow competition was a huge success, with K and S Kelly from Burncourt, Cahir, Co Tipperary, retaining their title with Coolrue Derry Tieenie.
The Aberdeen Angus section attracted a lot of good quality entries, as top breeders vied for the Munster Cup. Albert de Cogan, Castlemaryr, Co Cork, took the honours, with a super bull, Devron Jasper, which went on to take the overall beef championship.
Mountrath, Co Laois, exhibitor Dan Tynan filled the reserve spot with Vine, his champion Limousin.
Eustace and Deirdre Burke from Carrigaline produced the reserve champion Aberdeen Angus, while Albert de Cogan also produced the champion Hereford.
Jim and Ivan Ryall, Castlemartyr, continued to dominate the Charolais classes. Kilmeaden, Co Waterford, man Jim Ryan took the Blonde D’Aquitane honours.
The ICMSA Cup for junior stockperson went to Tom Hennessy, Bishopstown, Lismore, Co Waterford.
In the sheep rings, the Cunninghams from Boolattin and the Whytes from Cutteen dominated proceedings. Frank Cunningham retained the Boolattin Cup, with Pat Whyte filling the runner up spot.
Championship winning exhibitors were as follows (reserves in brackets).
HORSES
Ridden Hunter: Rosemary Connors, Woodstown, Co Waterford (Paddy Cotter, c/o Rosemary Connors).
Working Hunter: Paddy Cotter.
Young Horse: Seamus Lehane, Clonakilty, Co Cork. (Pat Keating, Ardmore, Co Waterford).
Yearling: Michael McCarthy, MRCVS, Clonakilty.
Two Year Old: Seamus Lehane.
Three Year Old: Pat Keating.
Filly (Young Horses): Michael McCarthy.
Broodmare: Jim Lynch, Cappagh, Co Waterford (Richard Drohan, Rathgormack, Co Waterford).
Goffs Broodmare: Jean O Brien, Derrygrath Stud, Cahir, Co Tipperary.
PONIES
Show Hunter: Michael Steyn-Keating c/o Sonya Steyn Ballyporeen, Co Tipperary (Atlanta Cahill, Barntown, Co Wexford).
Champion (Confined to Co Waterford): Karen O Keeffe, Bonmahon (Ann Connors, Dungarvan).
Working Hunter: James Burke, Dungarvan (Kirsty Connell, Tallow).
Starter/First Ridden/Lead Rein: Charlotte Hatton, Fethard, Co Tipperary.
CATTLE
Friesians: K and S Kelly, Cahir, Co Tipperary, (Lory O’Hanlon, Kilmacow, Co Kilkenny).
Overall Beef: Albert de Cogan, Castlemartyr (Dan Tynan, Mountrath).
Herefords: Albert de Cogan (Albert de Cogan).
Charolais: Jim Ryall, Castlemartyr (William Gough, Dungarvan).
Aberdeen Angus: Albert de Cogan (Eustace and Deirdre Burke, Carrigaline, Co Cork).
Blonde D’Aquitane: Jimmy Ryan, Kilmeaden, Co. Waterford (Roger Callanan, Carrick-on-Suir).
Limousin: Dan Tynan, Mountrath (John O Grady, Midleton).
