IT’S been a good week for the Irish Equine Centre.

On Wednesday a group of equine industry leaders and influencers were unanimous in telling the Minister for Agriculture that the Johnstown, Co Kildare laboratory was deserving of a major upgrade. A day later the IEC picked up three prestigious national awards.

IEC chief executive Sarah McNicholas said her team was still on a high yesterday following their success at the Irish Laboratory Awards in Dublin. “We were nominated in two categories – veterinary and agricultural – and we were hopeful of perhaps winning one. Not only did we win both but, at the end of the ceremony, the Equine Centre was named Commercial Laboratory of the Year, which was totally unexpected.”

The award categories were contested by industry and academic heavyweights, including some devoted to cancer research, food science and laser technology. “That is what makes it so special,” McNicholas said. “This wasn’t a backslap from the equine industry. The judges are independent and very focused on quality of research. They could see the real practical influence the IEC has on the health of the equine herd and the tangible benefits it gives.”

Funding for the Equine Centre was a recurring theme at a meeting in Dublin on Wednesday attended by over 20 prominent figures from the sport horse and thoroughbred industry.

Attended by Michael Creed, the Minister for Agriculture, the two-hour meeting was jointly-organised by Alltech, Gain, Grant Thornton and The Irish Field – the four partners who staged the Equine Summit in the Keadeen Hotel last November.

THOROUGHBRED SECTOR

Horse Racing Ireland chairman Joe Keeling, fellow board member Meta Osborne, trainers Jim Bolger and Dermot Weld, plus Irish National Stud chairman and chief executive Matt Dempsey and Cathal Beale were among those representing the thoroughbred sector.

Labour market issues, industry funding and supports around equine technology were some of the topics discussed.

Mary Delaney of Gain Equine Nutrition, who acted as facilitator at the meeting, said: “The Equine Summit broke new ground by bringing together the sport horse and thoroughbred industries to discuss shared challenges and opportunities. Feedback from the event was very positive and the four organising partners felt it was important to pursue some of the topics discussed with industry leaders.”

Sasha Kerins of Grant Thornton added: “This week’s round table discussion was a really worthwhile initiative. The Minister was clearly impressed with a lot of what he was hearing. He gave those present some strong pointers on where he felt the equine industry should focus its efforts in order to increase its chances of winning more Government support.”