THE Grooms Group, set up in May this year by Kathy McMullan with the aim of supporting Irish grooms, has gone from strength to strength and crowned it’s very first Groom of the Year last week by public vote.

The winner was Niamh Mitchell (née Quinn), groom (and sister-in-law) to Claremorris show jumper Shane Goggins, and a keen amateur show jumper herself. Niamh received a prize of €600 in cash, sponsored by Hughes Horse Stud, Anonymous, Edward Little and Ethan Ahearne, plus a £100 TRI voucher, sponsored by Irish Equine Rehabilitation and Fitness Centre.