CONGRATULATIONS to Dick O’Sullivan of Punchestown Racecourse who was the recipient of the prestigious Kildare Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Contribution to Business Award at a ceremony in Killashee Hotel last Friday week, November 29th.

As you can well imagine if you have spent two minutes in the man’s company, O’Sullivan’s acceptance speech entertained and enthralled the 440 strong audience as he spoke about his varied career from qualifying as a veterinary surgeon, to his days in Mexico and Brazil with Kerry Group and finally landing his “dream job at the age of 62” at the home of Irish jump racing.

O’Sullivan who originally was asked “to spend a couple of months steadying the ship” at a time when Punchestown was at serious risk of closure, spent 17 years at the helm before retiring in 2018 and handing over the reins to Conor O’Neill. However, O’Sullivan is still involved with his role as president of Punchestown racecourse and venue.

Golden Naas

TWO pairs of ‘Golden Tickets’ for Naas Races on Sunday, January 5th, when the feature race is the Grade 1 Lawlor’s of Naas Novice Hurdle, were on offer to our readers if they told us who will judge the best dressed competition on the day. Thanks to so many of you who answered correctly - Rosanna Davison. Each ticket includes admission, €10 food voucher, €5 bet and €5 drinks voucher and the two names drawn out are: Noel Malone-Leigh, Rahoonbeak, Co Kildare and Philip Cunningham, Templemore, Co Tipperary.