CLOSE to 600 people attended the Eventing Ireland Northern Region annual awards’ dinner last Saturday night in the La Mon Hotel, Castlereagh where the style was stunning, the craic mighty and the music excellent.

“The spin-off for the economy must be huge between dresses, shoes, manicures, pedicures, fake tans, hairdressers, taxis, etc!” said regional secretary and function organiser Dora Beacom, who was on a short visit home from her new winter base in Spain.

The prize-giving ceremony took place before guests enjoyed their meal with Raymond Bready acting as MC while chief scorer Clare Palmer displayed action shots of the winners. The list of those who received trophies, etc from Northern Region chairperson Catherine Abbott appears in this page but, among them, was Steven Smith, leading rider yet again.

As pleased as he was with his award, Steven was even more delighted that his daughter Hollie won the EI100J prize for her season on her uncle Trevor’s 11-year-old Spirit House gelding Hill Dancer before being called forward a second time to receive the Pescetto Friendship trophy as the most improved junior rider.

Before announcing the amateur winners, Bready spoke emotionally about the death out hunting last month of EI90 competitor Claire Lowe. During a short tribute, Raymond said: “I would like my daughters to turn out like Claire Lowe.” He then asked all to rise and give Claire a round of applause, which was loud and sustained.

Raymond certainly earned his oats as, after dinner, he was back into action as auctioneer. The first of 15 items was a 40x50cms acrylic on canvas painting donated, and modelled, by the artist herself, CNC* Amateur competitor Alison Crothers. It was purchased by EI90 amateur, Lynsey Napier-Sneddon.

Other items included entries for Ballindenisk (CIC) and Tattersalls (CCI) internationals and an arena leveller manufactured by Richard Nesbitt and purchased by Declan Cullen who won the CNC** award for his season on Seavaghan Ash.

En route to Canada, Regional commentator and sponsor Nick Boyle displayed diverse taste by purchasing a colour, cut and blow-dry (donated by Michelle International) and a pallet of Comfybed shavings which was donated by John Kelly. Alexander Mills was somewhat more consistent, buying both the 10 bags of Stonebridge Premium Horse Feed (donated by Joe Marley) and the 12 bags of Feedwell Supreme Dog Food put up by EI90 Amateur rider Vicky Dobbin.

Raymond also conducted the drawing of ballot tickets and again a large and varied amount of items were won by those who had put at least £5 in one of the envelopes on tables.

The most excited winner was Jenny Lusk who, along with husband Harold, hosts the Knockany event each autumn. Thanks to joint-Master Bobby Wilson, Jenny won a day’s hunting for two with the Iveaghs. The La Mon Hotel donated a few prizes, as did the nearby Ardnacashel Equestrian.

Among those who won a family admission ticket to Tattersalls International was regional cross-country course designer Adam Stevenson, whose girlfriend, Jenny Copeland, has recently been appointed to the sales team at Equestrian & Farm Feeds, who donated 10 bales of Emerald Fine Forage to the raffle.

Throughout the night, a bucket collection took place for the Zakky Brennan Fund (raising money for a three-year-old Belfast cancer sufferer) while the Region is making a donation from the dinner’s proceeds towards the new Northern Ireland air ambulance service.

As usual, live music was provided by the very popular band The Bizz, who soon had people up on the many dancefloors, with the night being rounded off by a DJ. Among those displaying their moves from the world of show jumping was farrier Rory Lavery, while Gwen Scott and Jamie Smyth represented showing. Past midnight, Hollie O’Flynn and Conor Woods celebrated their first wedding anniversary, while the CNCJ* award winner Chloe Rooney turned 18.

No one was surprised to hear that, in spite of her very busy day and late night, Dora Beacom was judging at Portmore on Sunday before heading back to warmer climes on Monday.