LIMERICK LADY AND MATRON CHAMPIONSHIPS

AIMS OF THE SOCIETY

 THE TRADITIONAL IRISH HORSEBREEDING SOCIETY

(FORMERLY THE HUNTER IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY)

To promote the breeding of the traditional Irish non-thoroughbred broodmare and going forward to foster and encourage their subsequent mating to approved Thoroughbred stallions listed in the Irish Horse Register.

Fillies

Since its foundation the Society has concentrated on the identification of non young thoroughbred female stock of traceable Irish pedigree that would be likely to make quality broodmares.  The Society is convinced that even greater emphasis must be placed at this time on the breeding of the traditional Irish non-thoroughbred mare whose innate characteristics of temperament, intelligence, soundness and courage are unlikely to be equalled let alone surpassed.

 

Breeding

As an extension to the identification of suitable fillies in the Limerick Lady Championships the Society introduced the Limerick Matron Championships in 1986.   This was a new and innovative opportunity for Irish breeders to avail themselves of substantial financial inducements to breed these already selected fillies to Approved Thoroughbred Stallions.  

The Society sees this innovation as a natural progression from the two-year-old filly stage into the breeding of the selected animals.   In mating these fillies to suitable Approved Thoroughbred Stallions the resulting progeny will most likely be the type of sport horse for which this country has been traditionally renowned.    In memory of Major Jed ODwyer a special additional Trophy and substantial cash prizes are now included in the Matron Championships for the Best Foal out of a Matron by an Approved Thoroughbred Stallion.

 

Historical Background

In 1984 Major Jed ODwyer, Mr Thady Ryan, M.F.H., Major Pat Furnell and members of the Limerick Show Horse Committee met with Aughinish Alumina Ltd.   The result of which was the Aughinish Scheme.  The Scheme to be in two sections.   The first to identify the two year old fillies while the second intoroduced an incentive to have these fillies bred to Thoroughbred Stallions.   Aughinish Alumina agreed to sponsor the scheme in its entirety and the Society, in conjunctions with the Limerick Show Committee, was charged with its development and presentation.   The age profile of the Limerick Matron has been extended to include former Ladies of three years and older with a special award for the 3 year old Matron.   Both Championships are still held at the Limerick Show on the Saturday of fourth week in August each year.

 

2005 saw the end of this very generous sponsorship.   In 2006 The Irish Horse Board generously agreed to support the Committee for one year and sponsor the Lady and Matron Championships and award ten Mare Premiums.   In 2007 The Irish Farmer Journal very generously agreed to take over the sponsorship of the Championships and the Horse Board to continue to award their Mare Premiums.

 

Up Date 2008.

These Championships are now known as The Irish Farmers Journal Limerick Lady and Matron Championships.