Dalysgrove Riding Club’s Derby Show took place on Sunday 28th of June at Liam Naughton’s farm in Dalysgrove Ahascragh. There was a good turn out; considering there were two agricultural shows also taking place on the same day in the West. Great thanks go to all who travelled to compete, and as always it was a great privilege to compete in such beautiful natural surroundings. As well as the derby there was clear round jumping, dressage and a riding club horse class, with Trec type obstacles.

The Murrary’s of Ballinasloe sponsored Derby course of 20 fences was designed, built and judged expertly by Charles Maudlin. The challenge consisted of a great variety of natural and knockable fences, with Charles’s knockable white rails and Liam’s white painted concrete pipes causing most problems. This year John Miland had to give best to new combination of Rose Burke and the grey Darragh Dale who went on to win the primary derby for Dalysgrove RC. The advanced primary was won by Maria Griffin on Edenvale Beauty for Castle Carraig RC with the consistent Dermot Goode on Elvis Flaming Star for Dalysgrove RC second, and Liam Stapleton and Madam Lisa for Tynagh RC were third.

The largest class of the day the intermediate was won by Dalysgrove RC’s Lorraine Costello on the grey Corlina, followed closely by Sharon McGowan and the mighty It’s Milo for Benbulben, Marjorie Hardiman on Gypsy Gold for Tonabrokey RC had to be content with third on this occasion. Tynagh RC took first and third in the advanced intermediate Conor Connolly on Frankie took the red and regional chairman Thomas Daniels on Shelly was third, Alan Briscoe on Kings Earl for Ballinasloe RC was second.
Helen Nolan kindly judged the dressage with great skill and fairness as always. Miland’s Garden Centre Mountbellew and Lorraine Costello’s The Dog Shop Liosban Galway, dog grooming kindly sponsored the prizes. Annette Donohue from Castle Carrig RC had it all her own way to win the primary on Lucky Cosmo. Visitor Sara Condell on Rosemaount Alaska for Anvil RC won the advanced primary, show secretary Leonie Nolan was second on the classy connemara Grange Fergal Sparrow, they were followed in third by Mary Dorgan from Foxborough RC on the palamino Swifty Lad. Marjorie Hardiman continued her winning ways with the fantastic Creganna Clover for Tonabrokey RC to win the intermediate, with Jenny Jakeman on Mighty Joe second for Springmount RC and Amanda Whitford on Gypsy third for Round Tower RC. The Graces from Slieve Bloom RC made the advanced intermediate their own with Jane winning with Push the Button and John Joe second on Lough Aidan, Karen Vicenzio was third for Dalysgrove RC with the Lipzanner stallion Siglavy Dubovina. Mary Cooper on Paddy Wack claimed first for Benbulben RC in the open.

The riding club class attracted riders from all grades who wanted to test their horsemastership. The course proved challenging to all, the duck fishing task and the rubber matting proved to be the deciding factors. The course was declared to be enjoyable by most competitors, because it was different. Many thanks go to Gwen Bastian of Trec Ireland and Mary Dorgan for their advice on setting up the tasks.