ONE band of riders who always pull out all the stops for the Eventing Ireland Northern Region awards’ dinner are the amateurs, although this year PRO Nicky Nesbitt found it impossible to get the 30 or so attendees lined up for the annual group photograph.

Luckily, the patient John Gibson did manage to photograph the award winners individually with Florence Campbell, being doubly honoured in the La Mon Hotel last Saturday night.

The Belfast solicitor won the amateur CNC* section with Imperial Master and was also presented with the Hanna trophy as the region’s senior rider (not to have competed at two-star level or higher) who collected most points during the season on a single horse.

Each year Nicky and husband Richard, farrier and EI/FEI steward, present the Bright Outlook trophy to the rider they feel most embraced the amateur criteria and ethos during the season. This year’s was Ailsa Martin who competes at EI90 level with her 2004 chesnut mare Grateful For Gold.

“Richard and I picked Ailsa for a number of reasons,” explained Nicky. “She is relatively new to the sport and has to hitch a lift with a fellow amateur to every event she attends as she has no transport. She doesn’t let that put her off nor the fact that she has suffered from scoliosis all of her life.

“Six weeks ago, Ailsa had to travel to England for a major operation to put rods in her spine to straighten her. She was told it would be next year before she could walk but, lo and behold, she’s on her feet already, belying all her doctors’ prognosis which I think goes to show her strength of character. Added to that, she is always very pleasant and helpful.

“In August, Ailsa finished third in the EI90 Amateur section at the National Championships in Tattersalls which meant the world to her. She deserves everything good that comes her way,” concluded Nicky.

There were a few southern amateurs at the awards’ night including, we’re delighted to report, Kate Keenan who had been so badly injured in a fall at Maddybenny in late August.It was also good to see the bond between our Junior riders as Correna Bowe, Christine O’Donnell and Mary Smiddy travelled up from Wexford, Kilkenny and Cork to join their Northern Region counterparts for the awards’ night.

Kildare’s Marcus Hayden was in the company of his good friends William and Patrick Mackie, whose mother Katrina, owner of the CNC1* award winner Mr Green (ridden by Jonny Steele), was just one of the many regional event organisers/hosts who enjoyed the night.