THE Irish Equestrian Awards Online Ceremony was held last Friday and over 145 attendees booked in for the event, which was organised by the Equestrian Business Network Ireland.

Nominees had enjoyed an interview with the judges in their category and were pitched against competitors in the same sphere of the equestrian industry. The judges were highly impressed by the talent and attention to detail that the equestrian business owners displayed.

In Panel A, the interviewees went up against Business Mentor Blaise Brosnan and in the Trec Trails Ireland Services Award, the winner was The Connemara Pony National Stud – Diamond’s Equine Renvyle, in second was Mel Doyle Photography and in third place, Claire Goodwillie Design and Advertising.

The RCM Services New Equestrian Award saw Martinstown Lodge announced winner with Better Together Therapeutic Riding Centre in second and Equieire Equestrian in third place. Highly Commended went to Jod-Z with a special mention to Aoibhinn from Equi Treats.

The Finlay Equi-Trek Horseboxes Equestrian Venue Award winner was Coilog Equestrian Centre and Martinstown Lodge went onto win the Overall Business Award in Panel A.

Panel B Judges, Dermot Bolger and Caroline Lane chose Julieann Gaffney of JAG Equestrian as winner of the Jump Start Show Jumps Equestrian Coach Award with Marese McCarra of Mullaghmore Equestrian Centre in second and Sarah Jane Doyle Performance Coach in third place.

The AIRE Riding Centre under three instructors saw Rag Tree Equine Assisted Learning in first place, Little Oak Equestrian Centre in second and Mullaghmore Equestrian Centre in third Place.

The EBNI Equestrian Retailer Five or Less Employees resulted in a very popular winner, John Hawkshaw from Tack Up Galway.

In the Centrepiece Rosettes Equestrian Retailer Six or More Employees, the winner was Zoe Grogan from Sean McEntee Agri and the Overall Business Award in Panel B went to Rag Tree Equine Assisted Learning.

Winners

Editor of The Irish Field Leo Powell joined forces with Jo Collins of Sales Performance to judge Panel C and chose Festina Lente Equestrian Learning Centre as the winners of the AIRE Riding Centre 4 or more Instructors Award.

In the Amerigo and Equipe Saddles Ireland Customer Service Award, Hawthorn Stud were chosen as the winners with Equestrian Portable Showers Ireland in second place and Biddy’s Good Luck Horse Shoes in third.

The Equipeople Sales Agent Award was very tightly contested with Marcella Gaffney of Pro Showjumps just nudging ahead of Finn O’Sullivan of JustAskFinn but the judges commented that it was extremely close and could have gone either way.

The Its Plain Sailing Equestrian Online Retailer Award went to Pro Show Jumps with Biddys Good Luck Horse Shoes in second and Whitethorn Equine Health in third. The overall winner of the of Panel C was Pro Showjumps.

The final panel, D, was judged by Emma Murphy and Jenny Cunning, who chose JAG Equestrian as the winner of the Centrepiece Gifts Livery Yard Award with Fitzpatrick Mulvey Equestrian in second place. Knockirr Stables were announced third with Highly Commended going to Via Equine.

The Trec Trails Ireland Therapies Award went to Katie Timmins Equine Therapy with Rider Align in second and Dublin Veterinary Physiotherapy in third place. The judges selected JAG Equestrian as their Over Business Award winner in Panel D.

Tribute

Tara Lane, founder and organiser of the Irish Equestrian Business Awards commented: “I was blown away by the support of the sponsors, judges and the nominees for this awards. I am already looking at the awards for 2023 which are planned to be in person where we can get together to celebrate and recognise excellence in the equestrian industry. Thank you to all involved for making the night such a success and a special thank you to John Forde for entertaining us on the night and to The Irish Field for their involvement as media partners.”

For more details on the EBNI. see www.ebnireland.ie