THE annual West Leinster riding club awards took place last Friday at the Kildare House Hotel, with league sponsors John Moore and Kevin Kavanagh in attendance to present the prizes.
Riders from around the region attended up to eight legs of showjumping and five legs of dressage over the last four months to accumulate league points in the hope of being crowned 2016 autumn league champion.
The standard of competition was very high across all levels, in both showjumping and dressage, and often there were very few points separating riders as the league progressed.
The award ceremony kicked off with the Linda Moore Show Jumping League presentations. Roland Dalton and Mrs. Maggie won the open league, Olwyn Butler and Santero were the runaway leaders at advanced intermediate level and the ever-consistent pair of Sara Wood and Wacky Jack picked up intermediate first prize.
Eloise McNeely with Glenmullan Zelda and Sean Heavey with Milo took first prize at advanced primary and primary level respectively.
DRESSAGE LEAGUE
Dressage league winners were Karyn Jamieson and Empress Calisto, taking first prize in the advanced open league.
Lianne O’Sullivan and Bento Van De Noordheuvel just recently moved up in grade to open level and were deserved winners in that category.
Leanne O’Sullivan and Ballysax Alice won the advanced intermediate league for the second year in a row and Olwyn Butler with the very versatile Santero claimed first place at intermediate level.
Michelle Wright with Panda Bear and Siobhan Harris with Dicksgrove Jewel, both from Ballyteague Riding Club, took first place in the advanced primary and primary league respectively.
The league presentations were followed by the Camelot awards.
These awards aim to reward those in the region that embody what the riding club movement is all about and nobody was more deserving of a Camelot award than Anouska Rickard.
Rickard was nominated in three separate categories for a Camelot award and justifiably took home the award for secretary of the year and most improved rider.
Furthermore, Rickard’s goodwill and dedication to the riding club was acknowledged when she received the Linda Moore Trophy for all her hard work over the past year.
The Camelot award for volunteer of the year went to Fiona Furey, Anne Benson picked up the award for member of the year, Genna Kavanagh was crowned rider of the year and Eamon Moore’s Big Ger was named horse of the year.
Club of the year went to Killcarrick Riding Club, who host four events a year and are always very friendly and helpful.