Colonel Billy Ringrose, who was on six Nations Cup winning teams for Ireland and a member of two Olympic squads, plus individual winner of at least seven major international Grand Prix events during his army career, was awarded this year’s Hall of Fame Trophy at the International Riders Ball on Saturday last.

He joins the likes of Iris Kellett, Tommy Brennan and Sgt Major Steve Hickey, who were previous recipients of this unique award.

He and his brother Des joined the army jumping team in the early 1950s when the Equitation School at McKee Barracks was in need of promising new recruits.

Billy fulfilled that promise on horses like Cloyne, Ballynonty, Liffey Vale, Glencree, Hollyford, Ceannanas Mor and the one with which his name will always be associated, Loch and Easpaig.

Two years after joining the School, he was on the 1954 winning Irish team at Rotterdam with Liffey Vale. The following year, he rode Hollyford on the Irish side that took the 1955 Harrisburg Cup and, two weeks later, Glencree was his ride as the army side won again in Toronto.

Along with Captains Kevin Barry and Patrick Kiernan, he and Liffey Vale were on the Irish side that competed in the 1956 Olympic competitions at Stockholm.

In 1959 he and Ballynonty won the Grand Prix of New York and, that same year, he took up the ride on the great Loch An Easpaig. Together they won the 1961 Rome Grand Prix in which he took second with Cloyne. Also in 1961, Billy and Loch An Easpaig won the Manifestation Stakes at White City, London, ahead of David Broome on Sunsalve. That same year, he joined Ned Campion, Sean Daly and Edward O’Donoghue on the winning Nations Cup team at Nice.

Then it was on to his first Aga Khan team win in 1963, along with Seamus Hayes, Diana Conolly Carew and Tommy Wade. Together he and Loch An Easpaig had their second Aga Khan first in 1967 – this time with Seamus Hayes, Tommy Wade and Captain Ned Campion.

However, in the meantime he won the 1964 Harrisburg Grand Prix and the following year took the Grand Prix events at both Nice and Marsailles. He was twice appointed O.C. of the Army Equitation School and acted as chef d’equipe.

Following his retirement from the army in 1989, Billy returned to the scene of many triumphs as he became Main Arena Director at the RDS, and was later elected President of the Royal Dublin Society. On the night, Col. Ned Campion accepted the Hall of Fame award on Billy’s behalf.

Mullins publishes new book

Hunting correspondent for The Irish Field, Noel Mullins, has published a new book called The Irish Hunter.

With good photography and his own expert writing, it is a superb publication that should fill many a Christmas stocking. It gives a modern and incisive insight into the current Irish hunting scene – something that has been missing over the last number of years. So far, sales have been brisk but copies are still available at all good equestrian outlets and also on the web at www.noelmullins.com.

Register your foal

It is now legally compulsory that all foals should be registered. This must be done within six months from the time of birth.

For most owners this deadline occurs on or before December 31st of this year. Ever since the horse meat burger scandal broke, it is now the rule that any foal not registered within its first six months of life will never be eligible to enter the food chain and disposal of the animal at a future date will be all the more difficult. Foal kits and full instructions are available at Horse Sport Ireland on 045 850800 or www.horsesportireland.ie.

Have your say on stallions

The review of stallion and mare inspection programmes is now under way. Submissions from groups or individuals are welcomed. The deadline for having your say on this important subject is January 11th 2016. For more information, you just have to check the Horse Sport Ireland website www.horsesportireland.ie and click on Inspection Review.