The sense of finality was unmistakeable on the last day of the Dublin Horse Show, with a horse-drawn hearse among the entries competing in Ring number one, writes Frank McNally at the RDS.
Vying for honours in the Dublin City Trade Vehicle class, the Rom Massey & Sons funeral carriage was pulled by two jet-black Frieslanders, whose long manes flowed like drink at a wake as they cantered around the ring for the adjudicators. There could be doubt about it: this was the last day, and judgment.
But the funereal air did not extend beyond the trade vehicle competition. The 131st horse show was deemed an unqualified success by the organisers, with crowd figures and the morale of the Irish Olympic show-jumping team both well up on expectations.
Reflecting on a good week, the new chief executive of the RDS was quick to scotch suggestions that the show could be moved from its traditional venue any time soon.
Michael Duffy, who took on the role in May, declared himself "very happy" with attendances, thought to be at least in line with last year's 80,000.
The "tremendous result" in the Aga Khan Cup had all but secured Ireland's place in the Samsung Super League and boosted the team bound for Athens, he said. "And we're delighted at the international exposure for the show, with an estimated 200 million viewers tuning in."
Market research aimed at finding out how the event's appeal could be broadened was continuing, Mr Duffy said, and there was likely to be even more emphasis on family entertainment in the future. But neither this nor the RDS development plan - which includes the erection of office blocks on the site - pointed to the horse show being held anywhere other than Ballsbridge. "The development plan is designed to sustain the site, and the €26 million redevelopment of the Anglesea Stand is part of that."
Speaking before the Grand Prix competition, the chief executive also noted that the showjumping course design had attracted "very favourable comment" this week. In the event, the course designer ran out of luck with yesterday's weather, heavy rain and wind, making conditions treacherous in the main arena. No horse in the Grand Prix managed a clear round, although Jessica Kurten's second place was another boost for the Irish Olympians.
Back in ring number one, the gloomy weather only enhanced the appearance of the horse-drawn hearse, which - like the wedding carriage, bread van, and eight other entries - managed a clear round. But then again, there were no jumps involved in the Dublin City Trade Vehicle competition, and the trickiest manoeuvre involved putting the horse-drawn vehicles into reverse.
In the final analysis, the hearse could finish only fourth in the four-wheel drive section, won by Ben Good's coach-and-four (or "team"), which featured the same horses that pulled the Lord Mayor's carriage last week. Frank Flynn (Rathdown Carriage Drivers) won the disabled drivers section; Ned Duffy from Rathnew won the tub trap class; while the vintage milk cart delivered the commercial two-wheeler title to John Gallagher, from Enniskerry.