The Belfast News Letter carried a story
on July 29, 2000 about a training course for Irish Draught Horse judges:
Ten Irish Draught horse enthusiasts from Colorado, North Carolina, Virginia and
California in the United States and Ontario in Canada were welcomed to Athenry last week
by Mr Ger Shortle, Principal of Mellows Agricultural College.
"County Galway has a reputation for breeding quality Irish Draught horses and it
is a privilege for Teagasc to host this the first international judges training course for
the Irish Draught Horse Society," Mr Shortle said.
Ms Mary McGrath, honorary secretary of the IDHS thanked Teagasc and in particular
Norman Storey and John O'Beirne Equine Specialists for organising the training course.
The group spent one week evaluating and assessing the conformation of Irish Draught
horses, under the expert tutoring of Mr Billy Cotter, well known breeder and judge.
The course ended with a visit to the Irish Draught National Show in Necarne. Inspectors
of the society joined the group at the show and guided them through the judging of the
various classes.
The group visited a number of breeders in the area and saw many different examples of
quality horses.
The 1999 2000 Samsung Nations Cup series has two Irish bred and owned horses leading
the rider league. Gerry Flynn and Rincoola Abu by Cruising and Carrig Dubh by Slyguff
Joker are top of the pile. Slyguff Joker is by King of Diamonds out of an Imperiusmare and
is owned by Loftus O'Neill near Goresbridge and Rincoola Abu was bred by Harold McGahern
from Granard.
Top marks to Dermott Lennon and his mares Liscalgot by Touchdown owned by Terry Harvey
and Garronturton Lady by Cavalier owned by Woods Rosbotham who are lying 14th in the
Samsung Nations Cup league.
DERMOTT Lennon has settled into the swing of International competitions in the past two
years and the Great Leighs Horse Show in Exeter was a happy hunting ground last weekend.
Dermott and Dow Jones Courcel owned by James Acheson from Cookstown, a home bred
stallion by Quitto da bussy won the Pavilion premier two phase over Nick Skelton and
Showtime.
Peter Charles and Traxdata Mulligan collected pounds 6,000 when winning the Grand Prix
while Dermott was also in the money in the small Grand Prix with Garronturton Lady who
took home pounds 1,250 for third place.
