THE Northern Region of Dressage Ireland had to postpone their annual awards night from December to last Thursday week when they held it in conjunction with a demonstration on plaiting, grooming and turn-out at the Knockagh View Equestrian Centre, Carrickfergus.

The demonstration in the indoor arena was given by Alison McIvor of the equine recruitment company Show Grooms International who re-located to her native Saintfield last year. For over 40 years, Alison worked for some of the world’s leading show jumping riders who competed at the top five-star venues and at major events such as the Olympic Games, World Cup finals, European championships and world championships.

The demonstration attracted a good-sized crowd of DI members and non-members alike who were all impressed with Alison’s passion and skill, her willingness to share her vast knowledge and her no-nonsense approach.

Honour roll

From the indoor, the action moved on to the Party Barn at Knockagh View where supper was served and regional chair Joan Adrain presented the year’s award winners with their prizes.

The grade champions were as follows: Cherries Catering Perpetual Shield Preliminary, Jacky Reid’s Tooreen Hugo (Owner); Easthope Centurion Novice, Carolyn Mellor’s VSH Moviestar (Joan Adrain); MACSPEC Cup Elementary, Debbie Burns’s Master Caledonia (Mark Robinson); Medium plus Advanced, Courtney Akkari’s Favorino (Owner); Hail’s Vision perpetual trophy Open, Joanne Jarden’s Quarryhill Calypso (Owner).

The underage winners were: Northern Region Junior perpetual cup Novice, Sian Phillips’s Crosspoint Tolan (Katie Lowry); Brenda Cull Junior perpetual trophy Preliminary, Barbara McMurray’s Rocco Banana Man (Robyn McMurray); Trailblazers, Lisa Wheeler’s Midnight Minty (Amelia Wheeler).

Special awards: Killarney’s Choice trophy for most DI points accumulated in 2022, Debbie Burns’s Master Caledonia (Mark Robinson); award for completing first international, Jim McDonald’s Dante Alighieri (Ellen McDonald); Wylie perpetual trophy, highest percentage score up to Elementary level at summer championship finals, Jacky Reid’s Tooreen Hugo (Owner); Mourne rosette, highest percentage score from Medium level upwards at summer championship finals, Courtney Akkari’s Favorino (Owner).

The Roundthorn award for most DI points gained in 2022 by a horse bred in Northern Ireland was won by Barbara McMurray’s Rocco Banana Man (Robyn McMurray). This 17-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding by the Holstein stallion Cyrano was bred in Co Down by Anita Morrison out of the Coronea Eagle mare Coronea’s Girlie.