Ballinrobe Racecouse is proud to announce its first Fashion Day and Best Hat competition on Monday 20th July in conjunction with Caitriona King, milliner and Catwalk Model Agency Galway.

The Fashion day will feature a number of live fashion shows being staged throughout the evening showcasing the best of the west boutiques. As Ballinrobe is only a week prior the much anticipated Galway festival, this fashion day will allow the opportunity for all Ladies to gain some ideas to get ahead of the competition at Galway.

The Best Hat competition sponsored by award winning milliner Caitriona King will see some lucky lady walk away with a Caitriona King designed hat to the value of €300 euro. Caitriona recently won Milliner of the Year at the fashion innovation awards 2015 and her extraordinary talent has grown from strength to strength. The competition will be judged by Grainne McMahon, fashion journalist and blogger.

Tuesday’s meeting is Family Day with an exciting number of activities lined up for the children to enjoy. This year the racecourse opened a new playground and on the day there will be bouncing castles, face painting, meet and greet rags to riches miniature ponies and the front runner racing club to teach children all about racing.

Monday and Tuesday will also be action packed on course with some great racing. Monday evening is being sponsored by TOTE with the feature race of the evening being the TOTE Handicap to the value of €20,000.  Tuesday evening’s National Hunt card features the McGrath Limestone Works Ltd, Cong, Handicap Hurdle with a prize fund of €20,000

Ballinrobe Racecourse hope to welcome many glamorous ladies on Monday evening to battle it out for this fantastic prize whilst also welcoming many families on Tuesday to enjoy some fantastic racing, fashion, entertainment and socialising.

For further details contact

John Flannelly

Manager

info@ballinroberacecourse.ie

094-9541811

Kilconly, Tuam, Co. Galway Native won €1,500 cash prize

On Tuesday evening, 23 June, celebrity stylist and TV presenter, Marietta Doran chose Sinead Burke from Kilconly, Tuam, Co Galway, from an abundance of stylish ladies at the Co Mayo track, as the Vaughan Shoes Best Dressed Lady.

Sinead, a Nurse at University College Hospital Galway, wore a stunning white shift dress from Ivy Boutique in Tuam, her shoes were from Dune and her pale pink headpiece was designed by Galway-based milliner, Caithriona King.

The nine runners-up also walked away with a Vaughan Shoes goodie bag worth €130. Over 200 ladies enjoyed a champagne reception as part of the ladies day event.

Vaughan Shoes is a family-owned business and one of the leading shoe stores in the west of Ireland. They operate three very successful shoe shops on the main streets of Ballinrobe, Claremorris and Castlebar.

On accepting her €1500 cash prize, Sinead Burke said: “I was absolutely thrilled and totally shocked to win this evening. I came to Ballinrobe last summer for the first time and had such a great evening; I couldn’t wait to come back this year.”

Celebrity judge Marietta Doran said: “I was really impressed by the sense of style at Ballinrobe this evening – I found it very hard to shortlist 10 finalists from the hundreds of ladies at the racecourse. Sinead’s outfit was so elegant; she immediately stood out. Congratulations to Sinead, the finalists and all the ladies who made a huge effort to dress up tonight. I had a great night.”

Donal Vaughan, Director of Vaughan Shoes and Mayo Senior Footballer commented: “On behalf of Vaughan Shoes, I would like to thank John, Anne and all the team at Ballinrobe Racecourse for their assistance and attention to detail at our Vaughan Shoes Ladies Day. Their professional approach ensured a carnival atmosphere and a thoroughly enjoyable evening’s racing for everyone.

“We used the day to launch our new website, vaughanshoes.ie, and we hope the event will be the springboard to the success of our new venture.”

John Flannelly, Ballinrobe Racecourse Manager said: “Ladies Day has become the flagship meeting of our season so it’s great to partner with a great Mayo retailer like Vaughan Shoes, to introduce more ladies to racing. I’d like to thank everyone for making such a huge effort. There was a great atmosphere around the racecourse all evening.”

The nine runners-up were:
Fiona Guilfoyle, Mullingar
Cathy Dillon, Athenry
Sinead Conway, Westport
Megan Lydon, Cross
Paula Finnerty, Tourmakeady
Colleen Brady, Galway
Sabrina Murphy, Loughrea
Caroline Browne, Galway
Mary McKeon, Castlebar

REPRO FREE photographs available from Trish Forde. Tel: 00 353 86 8387747

Marietta Doran to Judge Vaughan Shoes Best Dressed Lady Competition at Ballinrobe

Marietta Doran will judge the Best Dressed Lady Competition at Ballinrobe Racecourse on Tuesday June 23rd, with Vaughan Shoes sponsoring the Ladies Day prizes and all seven races on the card.

The winner of the Best Dressed Lady competition will walk away with a top prize of €1,500 cash and there will be goody bags to the value of €130 for nine runners-up.

Vaughan Shoes, sponsor of Ballinrobe’s flagship summer meeting is a family-owned business and one of the leading shoe stores in the west of Ireland. They operate three very successful shoe shops on the main streets in Ballinrobe, Claremorris and Castlebar.

Stylist, Marietta Doran:
“I am so excited to be heading west again for Ladies Day at Ballinrobe and I’m so thrilled to judge the Vaughan Shoes Best Dressed Lady competition. The eagerly awaited Ladies Day at Ballinrobe is one of the most glamorous race meetings in the Irish Racing Fashion Calendar with lots of fantastic prizes up for grabs. Wearing a headpiece is essential and bright colours will help you stand out from the crowd.”

Ladies Day Prizes Worth over €2,500 to be Won

John Flannelly, Manager, Ballinrobe Racecourse:
“We are delighted to have secured Vaughan Shoes as Sponsor for Ladies Day here at Ballinrobe this year. In addition to their sponsorship of the Ladies Day prizes they are also sponsoring all seven races on the evening. As a locally owned family business they are making a big impact on the retail scene in the west of Ireland and we are delighted to work with them and look forward to a great evening of fashion and racing on June 23rd.”

Donal Vaughan, Director Vaughan Shoes and Mayo Senior Footballer:
“On behalf of Vaughan Shoes we are delighted to be sponsoring Ladies Day in Ballinrobe. The Vaughan Shoes ladies day promises to be a great occasion. The €1500 cash prize and nine runners-up prizes are attracting huge interest. All roads are leading to Ballinrobe racecourse on June 23rd. I can’t wait.”

Health and Safety On & Off the Farm to Feature at Spring Show 2015!!

The 50 Bales a Day Challenge!!

All roads from within the province and further afield will point to the Ballinrobe Racecourse on Sunday 17th May for the fifth Annual Connacht Spring Show, which promises to be one of the best shows to be held in the West of Ireland in recent years.  Due to the high level of farm deaths organisers have decided to focus heavily on the increased risks and hazards that await us daily as we head out the door to complete our daily chores.In order to do this they have enlisted the support and services of the following bodies The HSA, FRS, RSA, IFA, Teagasc, Án Garda Siochana, The Order Of Malta & The Fire Service and they will all be on hand to give advice and demonstrations throughout the day on all aspects of safety. Supporting all of these will be the Irish Heart Foundation.

The Spring Show will also boast a comprehensive and diverse range of exhibitions and displays, and foremost among them will be the large farm machinery show.  All leading machinery dealers will be in attendance to display their wares and answer queries from interested customers.  As well as the latest in farm machinery, the motor trade will be well represented with a fine selection of various makes of cars on show and a selection of easy access vehicles will be on display just inside the main entrance, 4x4s and other farm-related vehicles will also feature. There will also be a large selection of trade stands focusing on bio-fuels, livestock supplies, veterinary supplies, and landscaping and grass care products.

Following the success of last years sheep show this years show will be fully sponsored by Bimeda and is looks like having larger numbers of entries in all classes. John Farrell from Roscommon will once again be at the helm.  John, a well known Charolais sheep breeder says he is looking forward to be part of this years event again and can see the show getting much bigger in the coming years.  Schedules and entry forms can be downloaded from our web site or posted on request.

‘This event will endeavour to encompass all aspects of farming and rural life’, said one of the organisers Paddy Rock.  It will bring everyone who is connected in any way with farming and rural Ireland to the same venue, so it is very much a one-stop-shop for farmers and their families.

The 50 Bales A day Challenge. How fast can you move them ?  Our record setting attempts are set to continue with what will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of the show as we attempt to set another new Irish Record this year, to add to the three already set, as we invite visitors to the show to take on The Fifty Bales A Day  Challenge.  This is a two person team event with entries taken on the day.

Fashion will also play an important part of our show, once again and we are delighted to welcome back Catwalk Model Agency who will be presenting 3 fashion shows on the day in our fashion marquee.  Shows will take place at 1pm, 3pm & 4-30 p.m.  We will  also be looking to find our best drssed man & woman on the day.

The Connacht  International Open Sheep Shearing Championships are delighted to announce the attendance of the current world Lamb Shearing record holder Ivan Scott at this years event. The competition strongly supported by Bimeda offers an opportunity to visitors of the show to see shearers of all ages compete in their various grades for the titles that are on offer.  Seamus Joyce & Peter Heraty, international hand shearers will have to battle it out for the many titles on offer as the young contenders come biting at their heels hoping to share a place on the winners podium later in the evening.

Following the success of last years Pony Show we are delighted to welcome back

Gain Foods on board as a sponsor of this years show and it looks like we will have lots of increased entries in all sections.  We also welcome the return of our Welsh pony section with The Welsh Overseas Bronze Medal Classes (the 2nd ever to be held in the West of Ireland and with these medals much sought after, competition should be intense).

We look forward to the addition of another pony ring and to welcome the arrival of a new section to our show ’carriage driving’.  Schedules are available to download on the Pony page of our website.

The Best of the West Food Emporium  will once again feature all well known artisan food producers in the region and will give those visiting the show an opportunity to taste what is best in the west.  Heading up our food emporium will be Chef Johnathan Keane from the Lodge at Ashford Castle and he will be well supported by local chefs from other hotels in and around the village of Cong who will be unveiling  ‘Cong Food Village’ at the show.

Cookery demonstrations will take place at 12 noon, 2pm & 3-30 pm on the Flo Gas Stand.

Crafts from within the region will be well represented as well on day and those wishing to avail of the spaces should contact the relevant people listed on our web site www.connachtspringshow.com.

The High Nelly Road Show will also be paying us a visit and will have on display some rare vintage bikes from the past and they will introduce for the first time to Connacht The High Nelly Ice Cream Bike.  Also making a first and rare appearance will be The Penny Farthing Bike.  To compliment all of this Will Fogarty (Fear Na Coillte) will give a demonstration of wood carvng with a chainsaw.  Items which he makes can be purchased on the day.

This years show will feature strongly on a Family Fun Day and will contain lots of novelty events, Bouncing Castles, Bungie Runs, Slides & kiddy Rides and much much more.  Further details can be obtained from George on 087 3984090.

There will also a Connacht Tug-Of-War competition with teams competing from all over the province.

Our 5^th Annual Connacht Dog Show  sponsored by Gain Foods will be of particular interest to dog lovers everywhere as it boasts 25 classes with 1^st 2^nd & 3^rd  in all classes.  This a perfect opportunity for you to get your dogs ready for the IKC Shows with a good size dog ring which will be on grass.

The Connacht Spring Show promises to be an unforgettable weekend with lots more events to be announced in the coming weeks.  Further details on all sections are available our web site www.connachtspringshow.com.

For further information on:

• Trade Stands Contact Ray on 087-2898229
• Machinery Stands: Contact Rachel on 086-0366296

e-mail connachtspringshowmachinery@gmail.com

• To book a stand in the Food Emporium contact Rachel on 086-0366296

e-mail connachtspringshowfood@gmail.com

• General Enquiries to Paddy on 087 2439760 or Peter 087 2038294

https://www.connachtspringshow.com

• Sheep shearing entries contact Peter 087 2038294
• Sheep show information contact Peter 087 2038294