THE Western Region of Eventing Ireland held its awards night last Saturday, in conjunction with the East Galway Hunt Ball and this inaugural joint venture was deemed a great success.

Some attendees had earlier hunted with the pack from their meet in Tynagh, where Masters Alan Briscoe and Scott Caskey (USA) were both out, as were Horse Sport Ireland’s high performance director for senior eventing Dag Albert and his wife Liz, eventer/show jumper Cathal Daniels and his father, Gerry, plus Goffs’ bloodstock team member Tadhg Dooley.

Others to have made a quick turnaround from the hunting field to the Meadow Court Hotel, Loughrea, included Western Region secretary Marie Dunne plus her son, Godfrey (one of the whipper-ins) and daughter, Katie, and other regular Western Region competitors Oisin McDonagh, Becky Scott and Duncan McFadyen.

Liam Lynskey presents breeder Fintan McGrath with his award at the recent Eventing Irelland Western Region/ East Galway Hunt ball

William Flood and Adam Cross of Flood Sport Horses also managed to both hunt and party the night away. They are both good friends of the East Galways’ huntsman, Eoghan McCabe, whose father, Fergal, followed the hunt on foot all day, while his grandmother, Mary Clarke, skipped the hunt but did attend the ball!

While very much a social occasion, there was a pause to the night’s festivities for some award presentations.

Recognition

The Western Region likes to recognise breeders for all they contribute to the sport and so took the opportunity on Saturday to present awards to the breeders of its 2023 Sealac starter series winners – Ralph Conroy (pony), Fintan McGrath (five-year-old) and James Ryan (six and seven-year-old). Rebecca Scott collected the prize on behalf of Michael Kelly (four-year-old). The awards were presented by Liam Lynskey.

There were other presentations to the Region’s leading pony, Young Rider, senior and amateur competitors, who were selected on a points system for participation and placings at both national and international events during the year.

These awards were presented by Dag Albert to Oisin McDonagh (pony), Godfrey Gibbons (Young Rider), Niamh Tottenham (senior) and Caoimhe Doherty (amateur).

Dag Albert presents Godfrey Gibbons with his award at the Eventing Ireland Western Region/ East Galway Hunt ball

The East Galway Hunt also presented awards for special achievements during the year and there were some amusing videos shared on the big screen.

Compère for the ball was the above-mentioned Ralph Conroy, chairman of the Western Region and a committee member of the East Galways, whose chairman, Dermot Duffy, also addressed ballgoers.

Dag Albert presents Oisin McDonagh with his award at the recent Eventing Ireland Western Region/ East Galway Hunt ball