Irish show jumpers, owners, breeders and horses were honoured at the Showjumpers Awards Ball in the Killashee House Hotel in Naas last Saturday night.

For the first time, the Showjumpers Club inducted a horse into its organisation’s prestigious hall of fame – the stallion Cruising. This great stallion has been one of the most influential Irish Sport Horses. Cruising passed away this year but his legacy will live on.

Bertram Allen has had a monumental rise in the world rankings this year with numerous wins and placings around Europe and several high-profile performances on the Nations Cup circuit. One of his most notable achievements was winning the Grand Prix in Dublin on Molly Malone in August. Allen, who is just 19, currently lies in 17th position in the world rankings and was rewarded with the international rider of the year prize.

Elsewhere on the international scene, Darragh Kenny was presented with a special achievement award for his various successes this season as part of the Irish Nations Cup squad.

From their results at the European Championships, the Irish pony show jumping team were named team of the year, having taken home a silver medal. Noelle Barry and Jonathan Gordon were named junior rider of the year and young rider of the year respectively, as they finished highest individually in their divisions.

On the national front, a new champion was crowned in Greg Broderick. Having won the TRM/Horseware National Grand Prix League for the previous two years, Broderick had another season to remember as he claimed the TRM/Horseware Premier Series. His main horse, MHS Going Global, was crowned the leading horse in the series, while the Broderick family were also presented with a special achievement award for their contribution to the sport horse industry.

Broderick’s National Grand Prix League title was handed to Kilkenny’s Vincent Byrne. Byrne is another rider who has had a speedy rise to the top and this was his biggest accolade to date. Along with taking the league, his main mount, Mr Rockefeller, claimed the leading horse crown.

The season began with the HSI/Connolly’s Red Mills Spring Tour and this was won for the third time in a row by the seemingly unbeatable Daniel Coyle and Linzi Johnston’s wonderful mare, Uptown Girl.

At the end of the season, another rider successfully defended a league title with Alexander Butler taking the GAIN/Alltech Autumn Grand Prix League for the second year in a row.

For the first time there was a national young rider of the year award and this was won by Mayo’s Cormac Hanley at the National Young Rider Championships in Ennis in August.

In the amateur division, Joanna Penfold won the Amateur Speed Championship while Lorna Conroy was the national amateur champion. The groom of the year was voted for by riders and fellow grooms and it was won by Thomas Brosnan, who works at the Kennedy Equine Centre in Tralee. Also put to a vote was the show of the year and this was won by Ballyfoyle Gymkhana.

Click here to see photos from the ball.