OVER 90 showing enthusiasts comprising riders, owners and breeders attended the hugely successful Showing Ireland Awards in the Bloomfield House Hotel last Saturday night.

What began as a small network for the showing community in 2017 has grown tremendously in strength and numbers in recent years, so much so that the inaugural black-tie event attracted an array of champions to celebrate the achievements of 2023.

Generously sponsored by TRI, the awards night took many months of planning and great credit goes to the hard-working team behind the scenes.

From the Dublin Horse Show to Balmoral, and the smaller country shows, it is always a joy to see some of these top riders and their horses in action. Time is always of the essence to prepare, and there’s rarely a chance to chat, so this was a wonderful opportunity for everyone to celebrate together.

Awards for combinations were presented in eight categories, the results of which were derived using a points system from each show they attended, from first (10 points), second (8), third (6), fourth (5), fifth (4) to sixth (3 points).

Vincent Phelan receives his sash and prize from Lorraine Keith of TRI (sponsor) after winning the overall title in the cob division with Master Riff Raff. Also pictured is Lauren Swaine who presented rosettes to the top six \ Siobhan Engligh

Of this initiative, Angus McDonnell said: “This season’s points awards competition has sparked a great interest for all riders throughout the country. TRI’s support has helped us create this new award and it is most welcome on the showing circuit.”

Leading four-year-old

First up to receive her award for the leading four-year-old was Nicola Perrin for Rathmorrissey Lord Of The Dance (by Castleforbes Lord Lancer), who added the reserve sash at the RDS to their many accolades this year. Second place here went to William McMahon with the RID Gleann Rua Marksman.

Next up, the lightweight title went to Sarah Lang’s own RNG Vantage Point, a winner at Raheendaw and Kilbride amongst others. Second spot went to Suzanne O’Brien’s Munthers Ranger.

Topping the middleweight title on points was Amory McMahon with Woodfieldfarm Baloo, ahead of Angus McDonnell on Statesman. McMahon made a remarkable recovery from a serious fall earlier this year to win at Clonmel and Ballivor, amongst others.

Chris Carter is a regular on the circuit and he amassed the most points in the heavyweight section with the RID Cloonan Hector. Runner-up went to William McMahon on Gleann Rua Marksman.

Carter and Cloonan Hector also headed the amateur title, ahead of David Kenna with Kilmastulla Newmarket Knight. Later in the evening Chris Carter was crowned ‘Top Amateur Rider’.

Amory McMahon receives her sash and prize from Lorraine Keith of TRI (sponsor) after winning the overall title in the middleweight division with Woodfieldfarm Baloo. Also pictured is Nicola Perrin who presented rosettes to the top six \ Siobhan Engligh

Brian Murphy rarely leaves the show ring without a rosette or two and he accounted for both first and third in the small hunters with Kildalton Wish and Flurry Knox. Among the wins picked up by Kildalton Wish was that at the Wicklow Hunt Summer Show. Shane McKenna was second on GMB Boston Bay.

Second award

Nicola Perrin was back to collect her rosette for second place in the riding horse division with Ballarin Rosebud, but the winner’s sash here went to Jennifer Kennedy on Olympic Bid, a win at Gorey in June among their top results.

Master Riff Raff was a winner in Bandon and Dungarvan with Vincent Phelan in the saddle and they headed the cob division, ahead of Brian Murphy on Goodnight Master.

Murphy was then crowned ‘Top Professional’, while Ivan Ryan was crowned ‘Young Rider of the Season’.

Without breeders and owners there would be no horses to compete with, and it was lovely to see two stalwarts of the showing circuit honoured on the night.

Chris Carter receives his sash and prize from Lorraine Keith of TRI (sponsor) after winning the overall title in the heavyweight division with Cloneen Hector. Also pictured is Orla Maguire who presented rosettes to the top six \ Siobhan Engligh

Daphne Tierney was the deserving winner of the Best Achievement Award. Under the Bloomfield Sport Horse banner, she is rightly revered as Ireland’s most prolific and successful show horse owner and breeder.

The highlights now include three Dublin supreme hunter titles with Bloomfield Ollie, Bloomfield Excelsior and Bloomfield Watergate. The last-named is the first home-bred horse in the modern historical records to win a Dublin young horse championship in 2022 and come back to take the supreme hunter title the following year.

These contribute to a total of 20 RDS championships between weight and age divisions in both led and ridden classes, in addition to six Balmoral supreme hunter titles, and many, many more.

Lifetime achievement

There was another standing ovation for George Chapman, when he was announced as the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award.

As one of the most respected horsemen in Ireland, he has been involved in many facets of the horse world, in particular hunting, point-to-points and showing. He is also an international show judge and a Horse Sport Ireland inspector.

One of the showing highlights of his life was when he won the supreme hunter championship in Dublin in 1979 on a horse called Zatopec. Earlier this year, his son Aubrey was crowned reserve hunter champion on Caseys Expresso.

Nicola Perrin receives her sash and prize from Lorraine Keith of TRI (sponsor) after winning the overall title in the four-year-old division with Rathmorrissey Lord Of The Dance. Also pictured is Aubrey \ Siobhan Engligh

Commenting on his prowess as a horseman, his good friend David Tatlow said: “There is no doubt at all that my companionship with George embroidered my knowledge of conformation, and how the young Irish horse should be viewed with his future in, not one, but two years’ time. George Chapman is not only to me, but all of Ireland, an equestrian icon.”

Top awards go to…

Points winners:

Four-year-old – Nicola Perrin (Rathmorrissey Lord Of The Dance)

Lightweight – Sarah Lang (RNG Vantage Point)

Middleweight – Amory McMahon (Woodfieldfarm Baloo)

Heavyweight – Chris Carter (Cloonan Hector)

Small – Brian Murphy (Kildalton Wish)

Riding Horse – Jennifer Kennedy (Olympic Bid)

Cob – Vincent Phelan (Master Riff Raff)

Amateur – Chris Carter (Cloonan Hector)

Overall winners:

Young rider of the season – Ivan Ryan

Top amateur – Chris Carter

Top professional – Brian Murphy

Best Achievement Award – Daphne Tierney

Lifetime Achievement Award – George Chapman