Connolly’s RED MILLS Showing Ireland Champion of Champions Marks 8th Year
Connolly’s RED MILLS has announced the return of the prestigious Showing Ireland Champion of Champions series for its 8th consecutive year. With qualifiers and the final offering a combined prize fund exceeding €5500, this series continues to be a cornerstone of the showing calendar. Recognized as the pinnacle of all-Ireland showing competitions, it attracts both professional and amateur riders alike. The Weighted Hunters, Ridden Horses, and Amateur sections each hold significant prestige, celebrating the highest standards of talent and horsemanship across the disciplines.
The series is expected to attract top-class talent from across the country, with competitors vying for the Champion of Champions title culminating in a grand final at the Wicklow Summer Show on the 19th July in Barnadown Equestrian, Co. Wexford. Once again, the final will be live streamed across Connolly’s RED MILLS and Showing Ireland social platforms.
Jane Davis, Head of Marketing at Connolly’s RED MILLS said; “At Connolly’s RED MILLS, we are incredibly proud to have supported this initiative from the very beginning and to have remained committed ever since. Seeing the Champion of Champions series grow and thrive over the past eight years has been truly inspiring. The introduction of the Grand Slam last year brought a whole new level of excitement and opportunity, and we are thrilled to be part of it. This series was always about celebrating the grassroots of showing, engaging directly with local country shows, and opening up the sport to a wider audience together with Showing Ireland these values remain at the very heart of everything we do.”
Angus McDonnell, Chairman of Showing Ireland said; “On behalf of Showing Ireland, I would again like to thank Connolly’s RED MILLS for their continued sponsorship and support for the 2026 Champion of Champions series. This series has gone from strength to strength with the principles of promoting riding show horses as an equestrian discipline in its own right and support the shows who provide us with the great venues to compete.
The RED MILLS Grand Slam of showing is a fantastic initiative a first in the world for Show horses, and I know it will be a prize that all show riders will want to chase as a career highlight.”
The Connolly's RED MILLS Grand Slam of Showing
Returning for 2026 is – The Connolly’s RED MILLS Grand Slam of Showing. This ambitious challenge will reward the ultimate showing combination: any horse and rider duo that wins their class at Balmoral, secures victory in one of the three Champion of Champions Finals, and triumphs in their class at Dublin will be awarded 1 tonne of RED MILLS horse feed. To date, no combination has ever achieved this remarkable feat within the same calendar year – will 2026 be the year history is made? To be eligible for the grand slam riders must be members of Showing Ireland at Balmoral Show.
2025 Finals in Review
The 2025 Connolly’s RED MILLS Champion of Champions finals once again proved a standout feature of the showing calendar, with 36 participants coming forward across the three finals to compete at the highest level. Connolly’s RED MILLS and Showing Ireland united to showcase Ireland’s finest combinations in this spectacular finale, with proceedings judged by esteemed UK judges Michelle Burgess and Patrick Lobb. This year also marked a significant step forward for the series, with over 5,000 viewers tuning in to watch the finals via livestream across multiple platforms.
The riding horse final saw Shane McKenna take top honours aboard Watchhouse High Voltage, a standout four-year-old who impressed with his quality and presence, while Nicola Perrin narrowly missed out on a hat-trick of wins in the class. The amateur final attracted a strong field of 13, with Tara Murphy claiming victory on Taughblane Dancer to successfully defend her title. The day concluded with a thrilling hunter championship, where Nicole Perrin secured victory aboard Rathmorrissey Lord Of The Dance, while William McMahon partnered Tulcon Hero to claim the four-year-old champion honours. Across all three finals, the depth of talent and level of competition highlighted the continued growth and prestige of this flagship series within the Irish showing calendar.
