‘Family day out’ at 43rd Elphin Show at mart premises

Elphin Mart is set to play host to the forthcoming 43^rd annual Elphin Agricultural Show this Saturday, August 27^th, 2022.

According to organisers, this year’s event carries a prize fund of €40,000 with showing classes for horses, ponies, donkeys, cattle, sheep, goats, farm and garden produce, pets, poultry, handcrafts, photography, cookery, dog show, cat show and numerous novelty events.

Among the highlights of this year’s event are:

• New classes in the cattle section;

• All-Ireland Super Suckler Cows & Calves Comp sponsored by the Irish Charolais Cattle Society (€3,500);
• All-Ireland Beef Heifer (€1,500);
• Qualifier for All-Ireland Intermediate Young Stockperson Championship for ages 13-17;
• All-Ireland Commercial Breeding Heifer un-haltered (€625);
• All-Ireland Pedigree Charolais Baby Calf (€1,500);
• Irish Show Association & DAFM Breeders’ Choice Continental 4 or 5 Star Breeding Heifer (€750);
• All-Ireland Continental Male Calf, born in 2022 (€500);
• All-Ireland Continental Female Calf, born in 2022 (€500).

Horse section (16 classes):

• Class 16: Elphin Show Mare and Foal Championship with €500 prize fund with the Champion Horse awarded the John Duffy Memorial Cup;
• 15 classes in the pony section with Class 29, Cyril McDermott All Ireland Broodmare Pony Championship (must have a foal at foot and is open to registered and non-registered ponies), carrying a prize fund of €500;
• New class 22 for young handlers aged 8-12 years of age, followed by the pony riding showing classes. The champion pony will be awarded the Paddy McDermott Memorial Cup;
• Two classes with driving for style and appearance and three classes for gigs and road carts;
• Two classes for donkeys.

Sheep (20 classes):

• Jack Fox Memorial Cup for Champion Sheep;
• New class: Best Pedigree lamb, ewe, or ram 1-year-old and upwards, other than Texel, Suffolk and Charollais.

Others:

• Goat section: five classes;
• Turf section: three classes;
• Farm produce section: 22 classes with class 149: Best Scarecrow sponsored by John Ames Power Washing Services, Elphin;
• Flower section: 12 classes;
• Poultry section: 37 classes;

Dog section – 21 classes:

• All-Ireland Jack Russell;
• All-Ireland male and female pup (non-pedigree);
• Also, All-Ireland female and male pup (pedigree) under 12 months;
• Prizes: All-Ireland Classes are 1^st: €50, 2^nd: €30 and 3^rd: €20 or a voucher to the value. The champion dog gets €50, and reserve champion pockets €25.

Other attractions at the show include:

• Gerald Butler jive lessons & jive competitions for young;
• Bouncy castles;
• Bonny baby competition;
• Elphin Little Miss and Master;
• Parent and child look-alike;
• Miss teen;
• Glamorous granny;
• Most appropriately dressed lady & gentleman, Exhibitions;
• Talks;
• A Pet farm;
• Face painting;
• Trade stands;
• Cookery;
• Handcrafts.

Family day out

In a statement, Thomas Gormley, chairperson of Elphin Show, said:

“After a two-year absent, we hope this show will be as successful as previous years.”
“I hope everyone who attends will have an enjoyable day as you will receive a cead mile failte. Many thanks for your support.”

“Again, we thank all the sponsors of the show, especially our main sponsors, Stevenson and Sweeney Family, Elphin Mart and the Callery Family, the hard-working committee, stewards and mart manager, Kevin Caslin, and his staff in the yard and office, Claire Connellan, secretary, and my fellow committee members, Bothar Rua, for providing their premises to hold the official launch.”

“Also, we would like to acknowledge a grant from the DAFM administered through the Irish Shows’ Association to the value of €6,000.”

“As you can see, we have a varied programme with several new classes. It is wide and varied, and we hope we have something of interest for everyone young and old to make it a great family day out,” he concluded.