THE inaugural Irish Sport Horse Industry Awards will take place on Saturday, April 22nd, at the Radisson Blu St Helen’s Hotel in Stillorgan, Co Dublin.

The new initiative, the brainchild of Liam Geddes of Ireland’s Horse Review, aims to celebrate the achievements and developments of the individuals, organisation and companies who contribute to Ireland’s €700m sport horse industry.

Some 15 awards will be presented on the night. They include best international and domestic equine enterprise, an industry research and development award, an innovation award, breeder and person of the year, sport horse of the year while one person will be presented with a lifetime achievement award.

There will also be an award given for the most innovative website/social media outlet, a media award, equestrian retailer of the year and a ‘Grand Prix Award’, which will be presented to an individual who has given outstanding dedication and commitment to the sport.

Each category will be judged by an independent panel within the sport horse industry and the night will be hosted by businessman and keen hunting enthusiast, Gavin Duffy, who is also one of the panel on RTE’s popular Dragons Den.

A panel of four judges will preside while the public can nominate their candidates by submission and must say why they are doing so in 200 words or fewer. For more information on the awards and how to put forward your nomination, check out the ‘Irish Sport Horse Industry Awards 2017’ page on Facebook.