IN true 2020 style, the HRI Awards ceremony was of the virtual kind this year, streamed live in a studio, using video call technology and pre-recorded clips to present awards to all 10 winners.

Hosted by Gary O’Brien, the 50-minute broadcast can be watched back on the HRI website. Given the nature of the awards, the organisers did an excellent job, the highlights of which were the surprise nature for the two recipients of the Flat and National Hunt Achievement Awards, Tony Mullins and Eugene and Maxine O’Sullivan.

As is usually the case, the showcase awards for lifetime achievement were given out towards the end of proceedings. Legendary figures John Oxx and Barry Geraghty, both recently retired, were honored with the Contribution to the Industry Award and Irish Racing Hero Award respectively.

Oxx brought to an end a remarkable 41-year training career this year, one which he will be best known for training some of the very best racehorses of his own generation in Ridgewood Pearl, Sinndar and Sea The Stars.

Speaking from his home, Oxx said: “It’s nice to look back, I don’t often look back at old films but a few of them have been played recently. They were all great horses and we were fortunate enough to have them.

“A lot of them ran up a bit of a sequence which was great to see them do and we’re quite proud of it when we think about it. We were very fortunate to have those horses.”

Few big prizes eluded Barry Geraghty during his 23-year riding career, in which he won both the Aintree and Irish Grand Nationals, the Cheltenham Gold Cup twice, the Champion Hurdle four times and the Champion Chase a remarkable five times.

During the stream, Geraghty thought he was on to speak to Gary O’Brien about his new book, True Colours, only to be surprised by his own family who came in to present him with the Irish Racing Hero Award.

Reflecting on his career and family, the two-time champion jockey said: “There were great days all the way through, but Shutthefrontdoor in particular winning the Irish Grand National – Orla and Síofra were with us, Rían wasn’t born at that stage.

“But, it was brilliant to have them there (towards the end of career). They were there for Bobs Worth winning the Lexus, Sprinter Sacre winning in Punchestown. They were magic days. I had great success in England was great but I really longed for success on home soil and to have here with Paula and the kids with us to enjoy those days and really embrace it was really brilliant.”

Asked if he felt he was part of a golden age of jockeys, Geraghty replied: “I suppose so – Ruby, A.P., Conor O’Dwyer, Charlie Swan, Davy Russell – brilliant jockeys. But I suppose every generation has the quality of that time, like John Francome and Tommy Carberry.

“It was a great group of us and we got on brilliantly. We had great camaraderie, great times, good rivalry, but it was always healthy, and always great fun – I loved it right the way through.”

Emerging Talent

Gavin Ryan is a rider at the other end of the age spectrum and his brilliant season was capped by a win in not one, but two of the award categories. Ryan is in a new golden generation of young jockeys and saw off his weighroom colleagues Joey Sheridan, Shane Crosse, Dylan Browne McMonagle and jumps jockey Sean O’Keeffe to win the Emerging Talent Award.

Tipperary hurling manager Liam Sheedy visited Ryan’s home to present him with the award and the pair spoke about Ryan’s previous experience of hurling in the position of wing half back!

The Killenaule native also took the Ride of the Year Award for his brilliant effort on Saltonstall in the Colm Quinn BMW Mile at the Galway Races.

You can read an in-depth appraisal of Ryan’s and Shane Crosse’s season, written by Donn McClean, on page eight.

The 10 winners of the 18th annual HRI awards:

Contribution to the Industry Award

John Oxx

Irish Racing Hero Award

Barry Geraghty

Horse of the Year Award

Al Boum Photo

Emerging Talent Award

Gavin Ryan

National Hunt Award

Rachael Blackmore

National Hunt Achievement Award

Eugene and Maxine O’Sullivan

Point-to-Point Award

Colin Bowe

Flat Award

Colin Keane

Flat Achievement Award

Tony Mullins

Ride of the Year

Gavin Ryan