Emer Bermingham

FOLLOWING a great year for Irish show jumping, the show jumping fraternity came together to celebrate and acknowledge riders’ achievements at the annual show jumpers award night at Killashee House last Saturday night.

Winner of the National Championships at Maryville, Andrew Byrne was awarded the National Amateur award, while Lorna Conroy was presented with the National Amateur Speed accolade.

Crowned Young Rider at the SJI national championships, Tim MacDonagh topped off his terrific year when he was awarded the National Rider Trophy, while Michael Duffy was honoured with the Top International Young Rider accolade for his outstanding achievements.

Liam O’Meara polished off his year as he was honoured with three awards on the night. The first award was the Castlefield Sport Horses Young Horse with Curraghgraigue Jack Take Fligh. Winner of the Connollys Red Mills HSI Spring Tour winner and leading owner, he was back on the podium to collect two more awards.

The national show jumping leagues are one of the most competitive leagues of the year and those riders that claimed the titles were honoured on the night. The TRM Horseware National Grand Prix winner Darryl Walker accepted his award, while Manuela Martinelli won the Owner of Leading Horse award for Cushions. Walker won the league with a 24-point advantage over his closest rival.

A winner of many awards in the past, Alexander Butler returned to claim the TRM Horseware Premier league winner award, with the owner of Hallowberry Cruz, Caroline Byrne taking the Leading Owner award. Butler also took the National Championships crown for the second year, having won it in 2011.

John Floody also added to his tally of national awards as he, along with the owner of Mise Le Meas, Mathew Birch picked up their awards for their win in the Gain Alltech Autumn Grand Prix league.

There were no surprises in the international categories as Tipperary’s Greg Broderick accepted the Rookie of the Year award. Lee Kruger, owner of Going Global, was named the Leading Horse winner. It has been a year to remember for Broderick as he went from strength to strength. The Tipperary rider started off the claiming the honours in the €50,000 Horseware Grand Prix at Thermal, California, aboard MHS Going Global. Broderick and Going Global made their five-star debut in the Furusiyya league Nations Cup in Lummen, delivering Ireland’s only zero penalty score in the second round. Later as part of the Irish squad in Le Baule, the combination’s textbook clear round second time out saw Ireland finish third place. In June at the Swiss Nations Cup in St Gallen, Broderick and MHS Going Global (ISH) double clear ensured that Ireland took third place in the Swiss Nations Cup. Things only got better for the duo as they delivered a double clear in Dublin as part of the Aga Khan-winning team. Broderick also went on to represent Ireland at the European Championships in Aachen in 2015.

Wexford’s Bertram Allen was awarded the International Rider of the Year. It has been yet another amazing year for Allen. In April he finished third in the World Cup Final in Las Vegas, and then went on to win the CSI***** Grand Prix classes in Paris and Dinard during the outdoor season as well as being a part of the Irish team taking home the Aga Khan Trophy in Dublin. Recently he won the CSI**** Grand Prix in Stockholm too, bringing his total of international wins to nearly 40 so far this season. Accepting the award on the night was Bertram’s sister April.

This year was a great year for the Irish teams, with riders from every level taking home a host of medals.

Tom Slattery’s pony team of Abbie Sweetnam, Olivia Roulston, Mickey Pender, Luke Garrigan and Katie Sodden were awarded for their great performance at Malmö. Their team missed out on gold by just three faults after a thrilling three-round competition.

John Ledingham’s junior team of Anna Carway, Susan Fitzpatrick, Cormac Hanley, Philip Carey and Lucinda Roche were also honoured. The team took team silver medal following a jump-off with Britain.

Ledingham had much to celebrate as his young riders bronze medal winners, Eoin McMahon, Michael G. Duffy, Michael Duffy and Jonathon Gordon and Sophie Slattery were honoured on the night.

Robert Splaine’s Aga Khan senior team of Bertram Allen, Cian O’Connor, Darragh Kenny and Greg Broderick were also honoured. Finishing on just four faults meant that the Irish quartet snatch the win from the Dutch team and gave the home crowd something to celebrate. The result also qualified Robert Splaine’s side for the Furusiyya final in Barcelona.

A Special Achievement Award went to 13-year-old Jennifer Kuehnle, who took gold in the children on horses final at the European Championships in Wiener Neustadt, Austria. Delivering two perfect rounds on Chaitanya 2, Kuehnle came out on top in the four-way jump-off.

Also presented with the Special Achievement Award was Eoin McMahon. McMahon was highest place of the Irish at Lanaken when claiming third place with Carl Hanley Sporthorses GmbH Talks Cheap in the seven-year-old championships.

The Special Presentation went to Ita and Tom Brennan of Millhouse Stud, Co Kilkenny, for their contribution to Irish Sport Horse breeding. The Brennans’ breeding line is synonymous with international winners. The family’s success goes back to such stallions as Water Serpent and King Of Diamonds. Horses such as Two Mills Showtime, Imperial Cavalier and Ballypatrick Mystique have delivered results at the highest level. More recently horses such as MHS Going Global, MHS Automatic and MHS Prime Time are true flag carriers for Irish breeding.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame on the night was Col Billy Ringrose whose name is associated with the Irish show jumping greats. Ringrose, who joined the Army Equitation school in 1954, was a prolific winner at home and abroad. Amongst his many wins, he was part of six winning Nations Cup teams and formed part of the Irish Olympic squad at Mexico in 1968.

Another prestigious award was the Paul Darragh Memorial Award which this year went to Michael Blake while the Show of the Year went to Aglish Gymkhana and Groom of the Year went to Francis Connors’ head girl, Maura Kelly.