THE Great National Hotel in Ballykisteen, Co Tipperary, formed the centre of the Irish eventing world last Saturday as over 160 guests came together to relive the 2019 season.

Organised by a small group of Munster Eventing Committee members, Eventing Ireland Munster Region chairman Marion Donegan welcomed all to the Tipperary venue with a special word to those that had travelled from outside the region. Tom Busteed was on the microphone to announce the winners of the 2019 Munster Eventing Awards.

The Leading Senior Event Rider title was awarded to Brian Morrison for the second consecutive year. The Global Event Horses brand has become synonymous with world-class sport horses through the partnership of Brian with Chris Hunt and the Co.Cork-based rider maintained a completion rate of 83% across nearly 100 eventing starts in a season which has included seven wins and 34 top-five placings.

Among other impressive results, Morrison was part of the Irish Eventing Nations Cup team that took the runner-up spot at Camphire in August and he ends the season as the highest Munster-based member in the National event rider rankings.

Young riders

Tipperary’s Maresa Ronan picked up the Leading Young Rider award on the night. Despite a late start to her competition year due to exams, top-six placings at Kilguilkey and Ballindenisk in July prepared Ronan and her partner Superjumbo for a trio of three-star level Munster International completions at Camphire, Millstreet and Ballindenisk.

With top-six placings recorded at nearly two thirds of their 2019 event starts, Heather O’Connor’s achievements earned her the Leading Junior Rider title. The Waterford rider completed her season with a podium placing at the Eventing Ireland National Championships having taken a respectable seventh place in the CCI2*L at Hartpury International just a few weeks before

Maresa Ronan collects the Leading Young Rider award from Marion Donegan at the 2019 Eventing Ireland Munster Ball\ Tadhg Ryan Bit-Media

The Irish Pony eventing team that took bronze at the European Championships for Ponies in Strzegom last August was well represented on the night but it was individual rider Olivia Swan who went home with the Leading Munster Pony Rider title.

Olivia’s 2019 season got off to a winning start in Tyrella at the end of March. Finishing in the top three on seven of her 11 starts this year, a win at Kilguilkey International in July aided their selection for the Irish pony squad and with Rockon Pedro.

The Tipperary rider went on to finish 13th individually in Poland and keeps the Munster award in the household for another year after her brother Harry won the accolade 12 months ago.

Munster Region was delighted to honour two amateur riders that stood out on the national amateur circuit – Sharon Power and Jane Grace. Regrettably, neither rider was able to be present on the night.

Grace Tyrrell, Alex Connors, Olivia Swan and Brian Kuehnle collected awards on behalf of the pony team that brought home the team bronze medal from Poland, while Chloe Fagan, Lilly Keogh and Jennifer Kuehnle were on hand to represent the Junior Eventing team that finished just outside the team medals in Marsbergen.

Ella Boyle, Luke Coen, Anna Kelly, Christine O’Donnell, Robyn McCluskey and Megan Telford Kelly took to the stage to collect awards for their fourth-place finish in the Young Rider Eventing Championships at the same venue.

Prolific horses remembered

The Munster Region lost two prolific event horses in 2019. Maurice Coleman’s Kilroe Hero was a rising star in the international ranks. Having risen through the levels with Tim and Angela Dennehy and Eamon Wycherley, Sian Coleman took the reins in 2016 and went on to complete at Pau five-star last Autumn before a devastating field injury ended their journey, just weeks before what was to be their first trip to Badminton.

Carol and Tom Henry’s Dunlough Striker gave Michael Ryan his first win at CCI3* in Millstreet back in 2016 and was at the top of his game with multiple Badminton and Burghley completions.

The Munster Committee presented souvenir collages of both horses to Sian Coleman and Michael Ryan as a token of appreciation for the enjoyment these two horses have brought to so many people during their careers.

Sian Coleman was then called back up to the stage later in the evening to receive the International Home Result of the Year award for her winning performance in the CCI3*L at Camphire in July when she partnered with Kate Jarvey’s home-bred Lady Baton Rouge to secure her first FEI victory.

John O’Regan was overwhelmed to be announced as the Munster Groom of the Year for the tireless effort he puts in to ensuring the Global Event Horses string of competition horses are at the top of their game.

Another familiar face on the Munster eventing circuit, John Glynn was also recognised on the night with the Munster Region supporter title. Through his Shanaclough breeding operation, John, together with wife Ann are intertwined with the Munster Region through a variety of roles ranging from rider to breeder, owner, dressage judge and cross country fence judge.

Both are regular visitors at Ballindenisk which received the Outstanding Munster Event award, in honour of the Fell family’s dedication to providing great cross-country courses.

Comyn honoured

As the Munster Eventing Awards drew to a close, Donegan stepped forward to present the ‘Prestige Awards.’ The Bill Powell ‘Free Spirit’ sculpture, crafted by stalwart Mona-Croome Carroll, is presented each year to someone who has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to the Irish eventing world.

In recent times, the award has graced the mantelpieces of eventing regulars Don Hannigan, Mary Steadford, Pat Coleman and Maurice and Rosemary O’ Connor to name but a few.

Sadly this year’s recipient, Deirdre Comyn passed away in August after a short illness. The Duhallow woman was described on the night as one of the most experienced and professional fence judges in the country. Her unrivalled eye, calm outlook and distinctive radio voice are very much missed from the Munster eventing community.

Accepting the award on behalf of her family, Patrick Coleman thanked her wide network of friends for the support shown in recent months.

Patrick Coleman collects the Bill Powell Free Spirit Award on behalf of the family of the late Deirdre Comyn from Marion Donegan at the Eventing Ireland Munster Ball \ Tadhg Ryan Bit-Media

Cathal Daniels was the final rider to be recognised on the night, and he received a Special Recognition Award. Although not based in Munster, Daniels spends many weekends at events in the south and the committee wished to recognise the 23-year-old’s record season which saw wins at Tattersalls, Bramham, Kilguilkey and Ballindenisk before going on to take individual bronze at the European Championships.

As the curtain came down on the 2019 season, Busteed took to the microphone once again to auction off nearly 20 exclusive items including training, shavings, feed, event entries and more; all raising funds to aid the Munster Eventing Committee in providing training initiatives and improve venues throughout 2020.