Clare filly wins Limerick Lady championship

LIMERICK is surely a lady as the Shannonside anthem proudly proclaims, but it took a filly from Clare to take the equine version of the title at the two day show held over the weekend at the region’s new racecourse near Patrickswell.

Anthony Moloney, Fair Hill, Feakle, won the Aughinish Limerick Lady championship with Raferagh Lilac, a two-year-old Irish Draught by Mourne Mountain Star out of Sycamore Blossom, bred by Owen Joe Duffy, Sycamore Stud in Monaghan, who has both the dam and the sire.

“I am absolutely thrilled,” said Anthony, who also won the Aughinish Alumina Irish National Draught two- year-old filly championship with the same animal, who was shown by Michael Feeney, O’Callaghan Mills, Co Clare.

Organised by the Show Society and the Hunter Improvement Society of Ireland, the championship involved 30 qualifiers at shows countrywide and is aimed at encouraging farmers to keep the right type of half bred two-year-old fillies on their farms and in the country as potential brood mares.

Public affairs manager with Aughinish Alumina, Pat Lynch, said they were very happy to be sponsors of the hunter improvement scheme since 1985. This represents an annual commitment in excess of 15,000.

“We greatly admire the work of the Limerick Show Society in maintaining and improving the country’s hunter and eventer stock,” said a company spokesperson.

Frank Jennings, Hollymount, Claremorris, Co Mayo, won the Aughinish Limerick Matron Championship with Irish Eyes, a three-year-old classy chestnut bred by Henry Crean, Moyne, Ballaghadereen, Co Roscommon. Willie Ryan, Grange, Co Waterford, won the young horse championship with Duky Robe, an impressive three-year-old gelding he bred himself.

In the cattle section, the AIB Bank Holstein Friesian Championship was won by Martin O’Sullivan, Gortboy, Newcastlewest, Co Limerick, with a second calver.