A SELLOUT audience of 300 people helped eight worthy prize-winners to celebrate their achievements with the Western Region of the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association held their awards lunch during the Galway Festival meeting.

The buoyancy of the breeding sector in the west of Ireland was best exemplified by the variety of award winners, and the successes enjoyed by the men and women in the region. The surprise award, not listed in advance, was a lifetime achievement award and it was given to Rev Fr John Naughton. He and his friend Michael Staunton have enjoyed much success over many years, and Fr Naughton has also given service to the ITBA in his region.

Mark Bleahen was on hand to accept the Contribution to the Industry Award which was sponsored yet again by The Irish Field. His sons Niall, John and Hugh were not able to attend as they were sourcing new material for the sales consignments in the future. The family, through racing and sales, have put many great horses through their hands, and a new generation of the family is making waves in the pony racing world. Representing the sons were Sinead, Elaine and Mags.

The Bleahens topped the Goffs Land Rover and Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sales this year, and in 2015 also headed the Derby Sale with a €320,000 son of Robin Des Champs. They have put the likes of Sizing Europe, Sizing John, Justified and many more through their hands

Coolmore Stud and Godolphin Ireland sponsored the flat filly and colt awards respectively. Gerard Kerin received the filly prize for Besharah. This Group 2 Lowther Stakes winning daughter of Kodiac was Group 1-placed in the Cheveley Park Stakes and has earned almost a quarter of a million pounds. Marguerite Joyce accepted the prize for Smash Williams, the Group 3 winning juvenile last year and placed in the Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte. The colt is a son of Fracas who won for the family also.

The untimely death of Dr John Waldron robbed the breeding industry of one its most colourful and dedicated characters and he bred the great hurdler Faugheen. The Goffs National Hunt hurdler award was presented to his son and two daughters. Tattersalls Ireland supported the chaser award and Caroline O’Driscoll took this home following the success of God’s Own in Grade 1 chases at Aintree and Punchestown on his last two starts.

Joseph Daniels was given the Weatherbys Ireland GSB Ltd point-to-point award for Follow The Moon and this 11-year-old son of Rainwatch won all his three starts between the flags in 2016, ridden by his son Christopher Daniels. Sean Barrett Bloodstock Insurances Ltd sponsored the Special Recognition Award and Pat Kelly, who trains in Athenry and twice trained the winner of the Galway Hurdle, was the recipient for training Mall Dini to win at this year’s Cheltenham Festival.

Richard Pugh was master of ceremonies for the day and he paid tribute, along with the ITBA chief executive Shane O’Dwyer, to the high standard of horses being produced annually in the region.