I HAVE a wide range of very mixed emotions as I pen this week’s editorial. It is late afternoon Friday and there is great apprehension as we await our Christmas fate, the anxiety fuelled by the ‘leaking’ of the recommendations from the National Public Health Emergency Team, or NPHET as we know them so well.

Why their recommendations cannot be kept between themselves and the Government is beyond me, as the airwaves spend hours ‘speculating’ about the outcome, and many, like me, choose to switch channels. Time enough to know what is happening when the decision is made.

On the other hand, I have returned from a morning spent visiting Gilltown Stud in Kildare and Five Naughts Stud outside Dungarvan with Joe Connolly from Red Mills. In both cases we were able to surprise Pat Downes and Niall and Claire Flynn with the news that they were the latest winners of our Breeder of the Year accolades.

Very different farms, operating in different sectors of the industry, but both have a lot in common. A passion for what they do, a cognizance for well-established female families, a desire to do the best for their horses, and an appreciation for success when it comes. It was a joy to visit both farms and, in the case of the Flynn’s, to see Colreevy.

There is huge sadness this week too with the passing of one of the greatest racing administrators in the history of the Turf Club, now the IHRB. Cahir O’Sullivan was an absolute gentleman, and brought to his role great understanding, patience, humility and wisdom. He was a man you could trust, and was someone for whom I had the utmost respect.

They say that the true diplomat is one who can tell you to go to hell in such a way that you look forward to the visit! Now, Cahir did not have to do anything like that with me, but I recall a letter he wrote to tell me that I had been pipped by another for a role. The letter was kind and encouraging, and summed up the best qualities of the man so well. Rest in peace dear Cahir.

Finally, I am worried about what lies ahead for many organisations and bodies as they face huge uncertainty about their ability to continue to operate with the current insurance crisis that is affecting almost any activity that involves an equine. This is something I hope to deal with in more detail next week – but the outlook is bleak if solutions are not found, and quickly.