OWEN Smyth, winner of the Irish Racing Excellence Award at the 2017 Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards, will join the judging committee for the 2018 awards on a three-year term. Owen will be joined on the panel by breeder Olive O’Connor.

Head stallion man at Kildangan Stud, Owen has worked in the thoroughbred racing and breeding industry since 1983. Originally from Crumlin in Dublin and a graduate of RACE, he has been employed at Kildangan Stud since 1988. Owen won the top accolade at the 2017 awards and also won the Leads by Example Award.

Operating as Olive O’Connor Bloodstock and based on the Wicklow/Wexford border, Olive has been involved in the breeding industry for over 30 years. She previously sat on the South Leinster region ITBA committee.

Olive and Owen will join the existing committee members who have experience across wide sectors of the industry:

The 2018 awards will take place in the Knightsbrook Hotel in Trim, Co Meath on Monday, May 21st.

JUDGING PANEL

• Bernard Caldwell

• Shane Lyons

• Ger Flynn

• Shane O’Dwyer

• Michael Grassick

• Ray Bergin

• Carol Nolan

• Pat O’Donovan

• Jimmy O’Neill

• Owen Smyth

• Olive O’Connor

• Michael O’Rourke (chair)

Top honour for Cork woman at Stable Staff Awards

JESSICA McLernon from Mallow, Co Cork, was named Employee of the Year at the British version of the Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards. McLernon works for trainer Richard Fahey

She was also presented with a cheque for £40,000, of which £20,000 will be shared amongst the staff at the Fahey yard, part of £120,000 in prize money which was awarded on the evening.

Jessica also landed the Leadership Award following her rapid progress to become assistant trainer since joining the team at Richard Fahey Racing in May 2011.

As well as managing day to day duties including rotas, allocating staff to go racing and managing veterinary visits Jessica keeps in close contact with the office and 75 staff.