TWO well-known stallions, Limmerick and Beach Ball, were named as the joint winners of the annual Half Bred Horse Breeders Society (HBHBS) Stallion Award recently.

The annual awards took place at the The Pheasant, Annahilt, Co Down, where tribute was paid to horse breeders in Northern Ireland, the society committee and volunteers.

The stallion award was shared by two sires who between them have produced many outstanding performers.

Limmerick (HOLS) is by Lancer II out of Zierbluete, owned by Jane and William Collins, while the Irish Sport Horse sire Beach Ball is by OBOS Quality out of Echo Beach by Clover Echo, owned by Brendan McSorley.

The broodmare award was presented to Turlough Murphy for his mare Dubh Rua, by Flagmount Diamond out of Torchy Lady.

According to the HBHBS, this mare now proven her value, not only by producing winning progeny but consistently producing top-class performance horses.

The Sheldon Cup for advanced show jumping was awarded to Guru (previously Neat Krakatoa), the show jumper, by VDL Douglas out of Madame Delphine, who qualified for the Rio 2016 Rio Olympics, jumping for Mexico. Guru was bred by Nicola Tang.

The advanced eventing award went to Brian Livingstone for breeding Graf Liberty, by Limmerick out of Lisheen Star, by Cavalier Royale. Graf Liberty has had many successes at three and four-star level and, at present, is ridden by Christopher Burton of Australia.

Kerry Taggart picked up the award for the three-year-old loose jumping horse Hamilton (KWPN), by Tangelo Van de Zuuthoeve out of Bigranta, by Rupert R.

Four Rising Star awards were presented, two for show jumping and two for eventing.

The first eventing award went to Bill McCarrison for Cooley’s Rourkes Drift, by Courage II out of Doon-a-ree-Lass. The same horse received a Special Award for Achievement after being placed in the top 10 at the Rio 2016 Olympics with Jonty Evans.

George Campbell, Violet and Emma Jackson, and Norman Watt also picked up Rising Star awards for their animals.

Campbell bred the show jumper Serpico, by ARS Vivendi out of Aldat, by Aldatus Z, while the Jacksons bred the event horse Fly Away Ferro, by Creevagh Ferro out of Rocketta, by Macrocket.

The show jumper Lammy Beach, by Beach Ball out of Chip of Coevers, by Coevers Diamond Boy, was bred by Norman Watt.

The dates for the qualifiers and final of the HBHBS Three-Year-Old Loose Jumping Championships will be announced shortly. Enquiries on these should be made to Carole 078-87389606 or carole_greyabbey @yahoo.co.uk