AT the recent annual general meeting of Eventing Ireland, which was held over Zoom, Jessica Harrington virtually bestowed her President’s Award on Co Kildare’s Kieran Connors who was recognised for the many roles he has played in eventing as a rider, owner, parent, event organiser, committee member, etc.

One of two special award winners on the night was Michael Adams who, the ‘attendance’ was informed, got into eventing when his daughters first took up the sport while his involvement deepened through his company Its Plain Sailing. Thanks to Michael and his team, EI was one of the first HSI affiliates to have contact tracing during the pandemic while he has worked tirelessly behind the scenes dealing with technical suppliers and ensuring the EI website opperates correctly.

Also recognised for his contribution to the sport was Peter Quirke who, most Saturdays during the season, leaves his home on the north Co Dublin coast at an early hour to provide cross-country commentary on EI events in the Northern Region.

Peter’s dulcet tones are also easily recognised at the odd EI one-day event on Sundays, at the Royal Dublin Society and the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society flagship shows in Dublin and Balmoral and at horse and pony shows throughout the country. Last autumn, Quirke embarked on a new career as he started providing continuity coverage for the live streaming of harness racing at Portmarnock raceway.

Peter is often accompanied north on Saturdays by his dog Russell and also fellow commentator Paul Nolan who, this weekend, is in Doha, Qatar where he is covering the CDI5* and the CPEDI3* in the amazing Al Shaqab equestrian centre.