Mary McCann was the deserving winner of the outstanding contribution to Irish sport horse breeding at the HSI breeding awards, which were held in Horse and Jockey, Co Tipperary on Wednesday. Mary, of Hartwell Stud, Kill, Co Kildare, is a long participant in just about every section of the Irish equestrian scene. Mary’s citation focused on the top-flight stallions she has stood through the years and in particular Cruising, who recently passed away but whose influence continues. It was also noted that Mary was a pioneer in the establishment of AI facilities for Irish breeders.

With Ireland having qualified for the Rio Olympics and once more topping the world stud book rankings, eventing awards were to the fore at the event, which coincided with the Irish Horse Board AGM. Having bred the highest-ranked Irish event horse, Pat Fenlon of Graiguenamanagh got an award for Kilronan (by Ghareeb out of a Diamond Lad dam).

The breeders of two Irish four-star eventing winners were also honoured. Paula Cullen of Newtownmountkennedy got a trophy for the great Paulank Brockagh (Touchdown/Triggeraro) that took Badminton for Australian Sam Griffiths.

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Winner of the Rolex four-star in Kentucky for world number one William Fox-Pitt, Bay My Hero (Cult Hero/Tomgar Power Crest) took the award for Bryan Maguire of Ballycarnew, Gorey, Co Wexford.

For the highest-placed Irish bred (third) at the World Eventing Young Horse Breeding Championships in Le Lion d’Angers, Cooley Dream Extreme (Cruising/Ramiro B) was the winner for Frank Gordon of Crossmolina, Co Mayo.

The overall most successful young event horse during 2014 Rioghan Rua (Jack of Diamonds/Flagmount King) earned a trophy for Margaret Kinsella of Oughterard, Co Galway.

In show jumping, the best newcomer to the world top 200 ranking, Special Lux (Lux Z/Coille Mor Hill), brought an award to Des and Seamus Judge of Bonniconlon, Co Mayo.

The highest-placed horse at the world breeding jumping championships in Lanaken, Ard Ginger Pop (Luidam/Cruising), earned an award for Heather Dean Wright of Navan, Co Meath.

Their success in the use of modern breeding techniques brought recognition for Finbar and Joanne Mulligan of Hollywood, Co Wicklow. (Joanne is better known to us as editor of The Irish Horse). Through embryo transfer, Finbar and Joanne bred the mare Pembrook Milenia (Diamant de Semilly/Lux Z) who came fourth in the five-year-old championships at Lanaken.

Dr Noel Cawley, Mary McCann, Leo Rice of Castleblaney and John O’Brien of Askeaton were all honoured for having bred the four British Odense Nations Cup-winning horses. This was the first time in 40 years that Britain had fielded an all-Irish winning team of horses. They included Touchable (Touchdown/Irco Mena), Santa Cruise (Randi/Cruising), A Touch Imperius (Touchdown/Cavalier) and Dougie Douglas (Ard VDL Douglas/High Roller).

Taking the best showing mare awards were Best Betty (Ghareeb/Prospect Pride) for Thomas Smyth of Thomastown and Elm View ID (Elm Hill/Sir Rivie) for Raymond Sloyan of Ballyhaunis.

New awards for mares achieving best scores at HSI inspections went to Cillbhrid April (Lux Z/Crosstown Dancer), bred by Richard Power of Tramore, and Gweebarra Genesis ID (Crosstown Dancer), who was bred by Charmaine Kee of Letterkenny, Co Donegal.