STORM Éowyn forced the late cancellation of the Northern Region’s awards and pub quiz night on its scheduled date of Friday, January 24th, but a week later dressage enthusiasts and their supporters gathered at Knockagh View Equestrian Centre to celebrate regional members’ achievements in 2024.

Two awards presented last Friday night were based on Dressage Ireland points gained countrywide.

The first of these, the Killarney’s Choice award for the NR horse with most DI points in 2024, was won by the Connemara gelding, Ambition, who is owned and ridden by Alex Ryan. The 148cm 2016 gelding by Drumbad Fletcher Moss was bred in Co Mayo by Padraic Feerick, out of the Bobby Joe mare Bobby’s Girl.

The apt winner of the Roundthorn Award for the locally-bred NR horse with most DI points in 2024 was the Linda McIlwaine-owned and ridden ISH gelding Roundthorn Oreo. As his name would suggest, this 2019 bay son of Vittorio was bred in Co Antrim by Patricia Connon and is out of her Sandreo mare Amour Roundthorn.

The non-restricted graded champions started with Shenade Duggan and her ISH gelding Homegrown Hendrix (Preliminary (Cherries Catering perpetual shield)). They were followed by Karen Murray and her KWPN gelding Mister Galaxie Win (EEFC Novice (Easthope Centurion trophy)) and Lisa Dundee with Patricia Connon’s home-bred ISH mare Roundthorn Nice N Easy (Keeway Equestrian Surfaces Elementary (MACSPEC cup)), who was winner also of the Wylie perpetual trophy for recording the highest percentage score (Preliminary to Elementary) at the summer finals.

The Mourne rosette presented for the highest percentage score recorded at Medium level and above at the summer finals was won by regional chairperson Joan Adrain and Moviestar, the Dutch Warmblood gelding with whom she also claimed the season’s Medium championship. Orlaith O’Hagan won the Advanced Medium title (Trooper award) with her Connemara gelding OOS Diego, while the Open championship (Hails Vision trophy) was won by Karen McKeown with her Dutch Warmblood gelding VSH Gangster.

For her regional results with her mother Louanne’s Hanoverian gelding Santa Monica Bay, Katie Mae McElwee was presented with the Brenda Cull trophy as the Junior Preliminary champion for 2024. The Introductory title was won by Lauren Ritchie and her ISH gelding Wellview Lenny; the overall Trailblazer champion was the Under 12 winner Harriet O’Hagan, while Emily Robertson claimed the Under 10 title.

Prizes were also presented on the night to the Try Dressage league winners – Annie Morrow (Junior Preliminary on Lieberty’s Benjamin), Cara Collins (Adult Intro and Adult Preliminary on Mharlas Majestic Lady),

Most, if not all, of the prize winners will be back at Knockagh View on Saturday, February 22nd for the next round of the Northern Region’s Brass Stables UK and Ireland winter league.