Gibson is brood mare and foal champ at Iverk

DOWN exhibitor, Desmond Gibson, Dromara, had a successful outing to the Iverk Show in Piltown, Co Kilkenny, where he won the Tullamore Dew brood mare and foal All Ireland championship.

A qualifier from Omagh Show, the impressive mare is by Billies Bank out of Catania, a Calupso 11 dam, and was bred by James Maguire, Ballycannew, Co Wexford.

The reserve rosette went to Derry Rothwell, Greenhall, Tinahely, Co Wicklow, with an exhibitor bred mare by Van Dantzig out of Barretstown Girl, a Touch Stone dam.

Aidan Ryan, Clontep, Co Tipperary, took the young horse championship, with the reserve honours going to Nick Murphy, Caim, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford.

Tipperary exhibitors brought off a double in the ridden hunter championship with Jonah Wragg, Fethard, taking the top award and Faith Ponsomby, Mullinahone, in the reserve placing.

Tánaiste Mary Coughlan, who officially opened the show, said the event has gone from strength to strength since it was established in 1826 and had grown far beyond what could have been originally envisaged by its founders.

“The Iverk Show is a tremendous credit to the people of the area,” she said, praising Joe Malone, president and the organisers.

Results: (Champions with Reserves in brackets)

Horses — Tullamore Dew Broodmare and Foal All-Ireland Championship — Desmond Gibson, Dromara, Co Down, (Derry Rothwell, Tinahely, Co Wicklow)

Young Horse — Aidan Ryan, Clontep, Tipperary, (Nick Murphy, Caim, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford)

Ridden Hunter — Jonah Wragg, Fethard, Co Tipperary, (Faith Ponsomby, Mullinahone, Co Tipperary)

Pony Showing — Tom O’Connor, Clogher, Lixnaw, Tralee, Co Kerry, (Margaret Green, Cloneen, Clonmel, Co Tipperary).