THE eventing fraternity partied into the early hours last Saturday night, having gathered at the Johnstown House Hotel in Co Meath for the 22nd consecutive staging of the David Foster Injured Riders Ball and the Gain Media Awards.
The annual fixture is always a very well supported affair, and this year was especially notable as it marked the milestone retirement of its president and most fervent supporter Lord Patrick Carew.
The evening also saw the supremely versatile Laura Glynn receive a life-time achievement award, while Cathal Daniels was named as the leading rider of the year.
Opening the proceedings, the indomitable master of ceremonies Tom Busteed welcomed all in attendance and thanked the numerous sponsors. Lord Patrick Carew, in his final role president of the David Foster fund, then explained the concept and significance of the trust. Lord Carew also informed those present that, since 2008, an incredible €230,000 had been paid out to 34 individual riders and outlined the sources of this income.
He also paid fond tribute to the ball’s organisers Sneezy Foster, her daughter Jessie, Emer Hatherall, Carmel O’Shea and Linda Young, and took the opportunity to welcome two new trustees, namely Emer Hatherall and Ciaran Glynn, who he described as “the golden boy among the golden girls.” He went on to name Sneezy Foster as his successor as chairperson and wished her, and the David Foster fund, continued success.
Appropriately the theme for the evening was set by a personal message from Jonty Evans, who has massively benefitted from the fund since his life changing fall two years ago. Evans was skiing with his family in Italy this week, but speaking by video link, orchestrated by Tadhg Ryan’s excellent Bit-Media, he told of his regret of missing the evening and reflected with passion upon the huge difference that the David Foster Fund has made to his recovery.
Lifetime achievement
There were six traditional awards on offer, with the ‘big one’ of the evening, the highly coveted Lifetime Achievement award, falling to the inimitable Laura Glynn.
A former graduate of Iris Kellet’s famous nursery in Mespil Road, and later at Kill, Glynn competed in show jumping and dressage at a national level and has been involved in almost every aspect of equestrian sport.
She was instrumental in setting up the Irish Dressage Society, and indeed held the chair of Dressage Ireland and was on the board for over 10 years. Together with her husband Frank, Laura founded the Killossery Lodge Stud, which is now a purpose-built facility embracing almost every element of equestrian sport.
Laura Glynn (centre) was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the David Foster Injured Riders Fund Ball. Pictured with her children, Ciaran, Robert and Sara, and husband Frank \ Tadhg Ryan Bit-Media
As a breeder she has excelled brilliantly – producing both humans and horses who have succeeded at the highest level of the sport. Her three children, Ciaran, Robert and Sara all represented Ireland at varying championships, while the success of her Killossery prefixed horses has been equally prolific.
Among them are 2009 senior European championship campaigner Killossery Kruisita, who was ridden by her son Ciaran, and the 2016 Lanaken world champion Killossery Kaiden, and his dam, Killossery Kruisette, who represented Ireland in the international show jumping arena.
Stepping up to receive her award from Lord Carew, and accompanied by a standing ovation, an extremely surprised Laura later disclosed how she had been led to believe she was in contention for the best event prize, little realising that her family had withheld the real reason for her attendance. “I was absolutely flabbergasted – it’s a huge honour,” she remarked.
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It came as no surprise to learn that Cathal Daniels had been nominated as the rider of the year. An individual bronze European medal crowned yet another brilliant season for the Co Galway native, who now has his sights set firmly on the Olympic Games this summer.
Unfortunately, he was not able to be present on the night but was ably represented by senior team manager Sally Corscadden. Ciara Watt from sponsors Plus Vital presented this award while earlier, Joanne Hurley of Gain Equine Nutrition greeted the pony team, who brought home a bronze medal from their European championships in Strzegom. Grace Tyrell, Alex Connors, Brian Kuehnle and Tiggy Hancock all received an award as did individuals Olivia Swan and Susan Shanahan.
Action-packed event
The coveted ‘best international event’ accolade went to the Semalease Camphire Internationa Horse Trials fixture in Co Waterford. The enthusiastic Camphire team spearheaded by Allan and Paul Brady successfully hosted Ireland’s leg of the FEI Nations Cup series this summer, while the event also saw the retirement of the sport’s legend Sir Mark Todd.
Sally Corscadden collects the Senior Rider Award on behalf of Cathal Daniels from Ciara Watt (Plusvital) \ Tadhg Ryan Bit-Media
The national event accolade, meanwhile, went to the Furnell family’s popular venue at Crecora in Co Limerick. Now heading into its seventh year, Crecora has made massive improvements to its green field site and, completely family run by Gerald, Carolyn and their family, hosts regular event fixtures from pony club to intermediate level, as well as point to points.
Flying the amateur flag to receive her award was Co Dublin equine dental technician Niamh Martin. In only her first season competing under rules, Niamh partnered her own five-year-old mare, Lady Bell, to head three of her four runs last year.
Enormous contribution
Finally, Jessica Harrington, in her role as president of Eventing Ireland, came forward to present Lord Carew with a special award in recognition of his immeasurable support for the David Foster fund.
As Tom Busteed spoke of his achievements, both in and out of the saddle, the crowd listened intently, with many not realising the extent of his enormous contribution to the sport.
In a riding career spanning 25 years, Lord Carew (or Patrick Connolly-Carew as he was known) represented Ireland at the Olympic Games in 1968 and 1972, as well as the world championships at Burghley in 1966. He also made three European championship appearances, winning team silver in 1967.
A regular at Badminton and Burghley, in the days when ‘rider frightener’ fences appeared at every turn, he competed the former on 11 occasions, Burghley on eight and was very creditably placed third at both.
News to many was the fact that he was also a very proficient show jumper, competing internationally and on Nations Cup teams from 1970 to 1978.
In later years he became chef d’equipe of the Irish three-day event teams while, in his role as an FEI judge, he was the president of the Ground Jury at two Olympic Games, world and European championships and at Badminton and Burghley.
As a result, it is believed that he is the only person ever to have been a competitor, a chef d’equipe and a President of the Ground Jury at three different Olympic Games.
Further achievements include a FEI gold medal for eventing, an award also won by his eventing daughter Virginia McGrath.
Lord Carew has tirelessly lent his vast experience and knowledge to every facet of the sport, presiding over the senior selection committees of both Eventing Ireland and the SJI. A former president of Eventing Ireland, he also headed the Equestrian Federation of Ireland for six years.
Lord Carew, who was later joined on the podium by his wife Lady Carew, spoke of his great affection for the fund and what the award means to him.
“It’s been a complete surprise and is very special to me,” he said. “The reception I got was unbelievable and I am extremely humbled by it all.” He also reflected briefly on his riding career, jesting modestly that many of his international appearances were only due to others “falling sick or horses going lame”.
He spoke of his pride at the huge talent that Ireland now has moving forward and concluded simply by saying: “Goodbye.”
He will be greatly missed.
Paul and Allen Brady collected the Best International Event Award for the Seamlease Camphire International Horse Trials from Horse Sport Ireland's Sophie D'Alton \ Tadhg Ryan Bit-Media
Joanne Hurley and Keith Cooney of Gain Equine Nutrition \ Tadhg Ryan Bit-Media
Kevin and Bernadette Lynch with Emily and Ciaran Glynn \ Tadhg Ryan Bit-Media
Linda Young, Robert O’ Callaghan, Melanie Young, Ella Weld, Chloe O’ Flynn and Chris Hansom \ Tadhg Ryan Bit-Media