IT was night of glitz and glamour as the show jumping fraternity gathered in Killashee House Hotel in Naas, Co Kildare, last Saturday night for the 24th annual Irish Show Jumping Awards. This year, the event was run in aid of the Kevin Babington Fund, the Jack Dodd Foundation and the Showjumpers Club (SJC) Spring Tour.
Opening the evening, chairman of the SJC, Ronan Corrigan, welcomed guests and spoke about the importance of club. “The club gives riders an independent voice and every year it is working to improving its voice,” Corrigan said, adding that the Spring Tour is invaluable for riders who choose to stay at home and work is ongoing to develop the tour further.
Before the awards got underway, Jackie Lavin choose Brian Kenny as the best dressed man, while her best dressed lady was Charlie Flanagan. Joint MC’s for the night Brendan McArdle and Louise Parkes gave insightful accounts of the careers of those who were presented with awards.
Among the many awards were the special recognition award and the inductees to the Hall of Fame. As always, these awards go to the stalwarts of the industry and their contribution is respected by both young and old.
This year the special recognition award went to the late Tom Moloney and was accepted by his son Eddie. Tom, who built up Warrington Topflight Equestrian with his wife Ann, was a well-known and respected character on the circuit.
He was recognised for breeding and producing top sport horses including his flagship home-breds Carrolls Flight, Topflight and Valentine Flight. His legacy lives on through his children Tom Jnr, Marie, Eddie, Ellie and Richie and now through his grandchildren. On accepting the award, Eddie said: “My father would have loved nothing better than being here. Like so many other families, it was show jumping that kept our family together.”
The Showjumpers Club Hall of Fame inductees (l-r) Eddie Maloney on behalf of his father Tom Moloney, Jim White and Cormac Hanley, with MC Brendan McArdle \ INPHO Bryan Keane
The first of those enlisted into the Hall of Fame was Cormac Hanley Snr. A keen footballer who once played for Mayo, he explained to the audience how he developed a great love for equestrian sport. “I had a passion for the sport and realised it was the best family sport there is and I am more convinced every day of my life. For young children, it gets them through those difficult years and sets them on a good road for the rest of their life.”
Following the passing of his father Charlie he took over the pub and grocery business in Claremorris and developed a drapery store, which he named ‘Trendy Shop’. This later became the prefix for the family’s show jumping ponies.
He later went on to establish the car auction and equestrian business at Claremorris Equestrian centre. His sons Cameron and Carl flew in from Germany to be at the awards, alongside Charles, who now runs the Claremorris centre, and extended family.
“I am so proud of how the family turned out,” Cormac added, before dedicating the award to his wife Eleanor who “stuck by him through thick and thin. Thanks be to God, the Lord gave us the health to see the thing through.”
The last inductee to the Hall of Fame was Jim White. Born in Tulla, Co Clare, Jim is a distinguished veterinary surgeon and was also one of the original founders of Showjumping Ireland. In 1954, while studying veterinary medicine in UCD, he travelled to Dundalk to attend the inaugural meeting of the then Showjumpers Association of Ireland.
His daughters Joan (Greene), Marie (Burke) and Sheila (White) have all gone to have successful show jumping careers at home and abroad. Jim who is 92 years old was there on the night to accept his award. He told the audience that one of his greatest achievements was Chippison.
There was lots of encouragement from team managers for up and coming riders. After the presentation of the Equivet Ireland Pony Team of the year award to the team who won gold at the European Championships, team manager Gary Marshall said: “If you can win in Ireland, you can win anywhere. Success breeds success.”
Niamh Quinn was named the Tredstep Groom of the Year after a public vote. Niamh, who also showjumps, works for Claremorris show jumper Shane Goggins. Darragh Kenny’s phenomenal year at the very top of the sport earned him the RDS International Rider of the Year award, although he was absent on the night at the five-star show in Paris, while Susan Fitzpatrick picked up the Rookie of the Year award.
The Jack Dodd Rockie of the Year Perpetual Trophy is presented to Susan Fitzpatrick by David and Patrica Dodd \ INPHO Bryan Keane
After the award ceremony, 15 lots went under the hammer for the auction. Led by Dutchman Frederik de Backer and supported by Brendan McArdle, the crowds were entertained by the top commentary.
A well-supported auction, more than €20,000 has been raised and the online auction continues to run at www.32auctions.com/jackdoddfoundation for another week.
Before guests headed for the dance floor, Brendan McArdle thanked all those who supported the night, lending a special thanks to the hotel and staff for the great service. Last but not least, event organiser Nicola FitzGibbon was applauded for her hard work in pulling off another great awards ball.
Alyssa O'Neill and Nicola FitzGibbon \ Meadhbh Dunne Jumpinaction.net
Tredstep Ireland Groom of the Year – Niamh Quinn
The Show Jumpers Club Spring Tour League, leading young rider, leading owner: Luke Garrigan, Pro-Am: Vickie Anderson
The Underwriting Exchange National Grand Prix League - League: Liam O’Meara. Owner/breeder: Martin and Paschal Coffey
TRM/HSI New Heights Series League - Francis Connors. Owner, Breeder: Hugh Fitzpatrick
Showjumping Ireland National Champion - Francis Connors
Flexi Equine Tack Locker National Young Rider Champion - Anabelle Heffron
Connolly’s RED MILLS International Young Rider of the Year - Mikey Pender
Jack Dodd Rookie of the Year Perpetual Trophy – Susan Fitzpatrick
Trailer Vision Ireland National Amateur Champion - Adrian Gilmartin
West Wood Trailers Speed Amateur Champion – Lisa Doyle
MyShowAdvisor Show of the Year - Avonmore Summer Classic (River Lodge Equestrian)
Horse Sport Ireland Senior Team of the Year - FEI Nations Cup Final winners Barcelona (Paul O’Shea, Cian O’Connor, Peter Moloney, Darragh Kenny, Shane Sweetnam)
Royal Dublin Society International Rider of the Year – Darragh Kenny
Irish Equine Centre Horse of the Year - Skara Glen’s Machu Picchu
EquiVET Ireland Pony Team of the Year - European Gold Medallists (John McEntee, Niamh McEvoy, Max Wachman, Tom Wachman, Francis Derwin)
Bluegrass Horse Feeds Junior Team of the Year - Kate Derwin, Ciaran Nallon, Jack Ryan, Harry Allen, Seamus Hughes-Kennedy
Finlay Equi-Trek Horseboxes Junior of the Year – Kate Derwin
Irish Commercials Young Horse World Championship Medallists - 5yo gold: Rockwell RC (Rider: Jason Foley, Owner: Sean Cubitt, Breeder: Ronan Byrne). 5yo silver: Chacco Bay (Rider: Mikey Pender, Owner: Hilltrup Sporthorse GmbH, Breeder: Alfons Brueggehagen). 6yo silver MHS Cardenta (Rider: Mikey Pender, Owner: Bravo Hughes, Breeder: Ita Brennan). 7yo gold: Cuffesgrange Cavadora (Rider: Seamus Hughes-Kennedy, Owner: Clare Hughes, Breeder: Eamon Sheehan)
CFpharma Ltd. Special Recognition Award - Tom Moloney
The Show Jumpers Club Hall of Fame - Tom Moloney, Jim White, Cormac Hanley Snr