THE Irish Draught section, held in conjunction with the IDHBA Cork/Kerry Branch, was once again one of the highlights of Cork Summer Show, with judging duties falling to Jane Darragh and Padraig Bohan.

The occasion was also one of remembrance. The Irish Draught mare class was held in memory of Tommy Nyhan, with the Tommy Nyhan Memorial Cup presented to the winning mare by members of the Nyhan family. At the beginning of the class, exhibitors and spectators also remembered John Hickey, a lifelong supporter of the Irish Draught. Long-time Irish Draught and native breeds enthusiast Kitty Cotter was also fondly remembered at the show.

Danny Coughlan’s Danny’s Lady, by Coolcronan Wood out of Clooneen Diamond Star, won the prestigious IDHBA Cork/Kerry Branch €2,500 Irish Draught Mare class and received the Tommy Nyhan Memorial Cup. The mare headed a strong field from Mary O’Riordan’s She Got Rhythm, by Rhythm and Blues out of Bright As Silver, while Richie Middleton’s Lady Neala, by Coilldarach Scirocco out of Lodgetown Lady, was third.

Danny Coughlan’s success continued in the foal classes when his colt by Carraigstud Callum out of Danny’s Lady, won the IDHBA Cork/Kerry Branch Colt Foal class. Eddie Corbett landed the Filly Foal class with his daughter of WRS The Black Cigar out of Growhowdy Elizabeth.

The Bantry Show KWD Irish Draught Foal Munster Championship qualifier attracted an excellent standard of youngsters, with Eddie Corbett’s filly securing one of the coveted qualifying places for the final. Joining her at Bantry will be Sean Scannell’s colt by The Bachelor out of DSC Coolruby, which claimed the second qualification.

Denis McGrath secured qualification for the Ballinasloe Irish Draught Colt Foal Championship final with his colt by Dunsandle Diamond out of Clogher Cleopatra, while John Burchill’s Union Hall Heathcliffe, by Killountain Cross, also booked his place in the final.

The yearling title went to Sean Twomey’s Barley Hill Star, by Edenagor Star out of Roni, while Ronan Stynes and Linda O’Byrne’s Carraigstud Liadan, by Carraigstud Callum out of Caheragh Jill, earned qualification for the Roscommon Irish Draught Yearling Filly Championship final.

Neilie and Eileen Hurley’s Ballydonaghy Storm Cathleen, by Ludden Skywalker out of Ballydonaghy Fiadh, secured qualification for the Limerick Irish Draught Two-Year-Old Filly Championship final.

Brian Barry’s Thetis Flannan, by Gortfree Lakeside Lad out of Ballyvary Rose, impressed the judges when winning the Irish Draught Two and Three-Year-Old class, ahead of Olive Morrin’s Bronze Belle, by The Bachelor out of Bronze, and Michael Aherne’s Elite Canelo. Bronze Belle later earned her ticket to the Bonniconlon All-Ireland Three-Year-Old Irish Draught Filly Championship final by winning the qualifier.

Thetis Flannan lifted the overall In-Hand Irish Draught Championship, with Sean Twomey’s Barley Hill Star taking the reserve title.

Ridden

Ciara Corkery partnered Edward Moore’s Ballylickey Lass, by Carraigstud Jack out of Ballylickey Bouncer, to victory in the Irish Draught Working Hunter class and Saturday’s pony section also produced a number of notable champions. Claire Nulty’s Lor Ruadh’s Czar, by Glencarrig Knight out of Lor Ruadh’s Carrowlina won the In-Hand Connemara Championship before going on to claim the overall Native Breeds Championship. Lucy Paphitis partnered Rossduane Shadow, by Black Shadow out of Doirin Beauty, to the Ridden Connemara title, while Anne-Marie O’Neill’s Kiltiernan Buzzard claimed the Connemara Working Hunter Championship. Aoife Brennan’s Captain Bailey headed the Ridden Show Hunter Pony Championship, while Greendown Rene, by Milary Consort out of Greendown Bethan, gave the Toomey family another notable success by winning the Mini Championship with Penny Toomey in the saddle. Michael O’Mahony’s Mill Megan, by Ventry Rogue out of Ventry Deirdre, secured the Kerry Bog Pony Championship.

Elsewhere in the horse section, John Walsh’s Gatsbys Girl, by Darsi out of Littlefield Lux, was Joe O’Donoghue’s pick for Broodmare Championship, while Loretta Hanley’s unnamed filly by Der Senatt III out of Be in the Moment Elm won the Foal Championship. John Burchill’s ABC Pop Rock, by Hardrock Z out of ABC Cavalier Carly, was crowned Young Horse Champion, before judge, David Kirkpatrick.

The day’s celebrations concluded with the presentation of the Cotter Cup in the Native Breeds Championship to Claire Nulty’s Lor Ruadh’s Czar. Introduced in memory of the late Kitty Cotter, the trophy was a fitting tribute to a woman, who devoted more than 50 years of service to the Munster Agricultural Society.