A FULL house gathered at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Belfast last Friday night for the ITBA Northern Region’s Breeding and Racing Awards.

Chairman Dean Harron welcomed the award winners, sponsors and guests and appraised the gathering about the value of the sector in Northern Ireland.

With 400 breeders and 700 thoroughbred broodmares in the region, the equine sector makes a contribution of over £30 million to the rural economy. Harron praised all involved in the compilation of the recent Deloitte report and says he is looking forward to the publication of a new Northern Ireland Equine Strategy on the back of the findings.

While loathe to dwell on the subject of Brexit, and with the DUP Conference ongoing in the same venue as the awards celebration, Harron warned of the consequences of a hard deal. This could affect transport of horses to and from the jurisdiction, funding for the two racecourses in the region, and may lead to horses bred in the region carrying a GB suffix rather than an IRE one.

Thanking sponsors and the headquarters of the ITBA, Harron also urged breeders in the region to support the Foal Levy. The levy contribution has fallen by 60% this year, and the region’s chairman was clear in his message to breeders. He said: “If we want to continue receiving the support of these All-Ireland industry bodies [ITBA, Irish Equine Centre and Irish Thoroughbred Marketing] which are important to maintain our health-free status, and for the sale of our horses, then we need to continue to pay the levy.”

Seven horse awards were presented on the night, while the final award was the Denis Stothers Memorial Award. Master of ceremonies for the night was Brendan McArdle, and he was delighted to announce that the winner of The Irish Field-sponsored award was his former boss, mentor and now friend, Richard Lyttle.

The hugely popular recipient was loathe to accept the praise heaped upon him by many, but was joined by members of the board and staff at the racecourse on the night. All spoke warmly of Lyttle’s inspiring leadership, unfailing courtesy and warm friendship.

Award winners (and sponsors)

Point-to-point award (Blue Grass Horse Feeds)

Peter Murphy, Co Down for Hi Murphy

National Hunt mare award (Weatherbys Ireland)

Tilly Conway, Co Derry for Santa Rossa

National Hunt award (Tattersalls Ireland)

Colin and Caroline Berry, Co Down for Battleoverdoyen

Two-year-old award (Coolmore)

Richard Auld, Northern Bloodstock, Co Antrim for Stay Classy

Three-year-old award (Goffs)

Colin Kennedy, Co Down for Danzan

Overseas horse award (Irish Thoroughbred Marketing)

Mairead O’Grady and Adrian McMullan, Co Down for Magical Forest

Older horse award (Godolphin Ireland)

Cecil and Martin McCracken, Co Down for Best Solution

People award (The Irish Field)

Richard Lyttle, Downpatrick Racecourse