Topping the 2015 Horse Sport Ireland Breeder Awards at Cavan this week were Suma Stud innovators Susan Lanigan-O’Keeffe and Marily Power. This partnership has brought new life and progress into the Irish Draught and Irish Sport Horse breeding scene over the last 40 years and took the outstanding contribution to ISH breeding award at the Kilmore Hotel, where 14 individual trophies were presented.

The two ladies, whose Meath-based Suma Stud is derived from their first names, will always be associated with the superb RID stallion Pride of Shaunlara. But, willing to evolve along with the sport they served, they also provided a wide variety of sires to the breeding public, including thoroughbred and continental sport horse. Although now retired and based in Graignamanagh, Co Kilkenny, they still exercise a strong influence on the Irish breeding scene.

Kilkenny input was strong at this sixth presentation of the awards as four of the trophies went to that horse-rich county. Three of these were won by the powerful Hughes/Brennan stables as Ita and Tom Brennan along with Marion Hughes were honoured.

Ita (nee Hughes) and her son Tom came to the podium twice. First up was their award for having bred the Irish horse that contributed most to our show jumping team this season – the Greg Broderick-ridden MHS Going Global by Guidam Junior out of Gowran Lady by Cavalier Royale. Tom and Ita’s second trophy came for the Irish Stud Book’s seven-year-old world silver medalist at the WBFSH Young Horse Championships in Lanaken, MHS Washington by OBOS Quality out of a Cavalier dam that traces back to Clareman in the Kells line. She was ridden by her British owner Laura Rennick.

Taking a second award in this category was Ronnie Kelly of Askeaton who bred the bronze medallist in that same championship, the Tinaranas Inspector mare Talks Cheap out of a Colin Diamond dam, ridden by Eoin McMahon for Carl Hanley.

The highest-placed ISH horse at the WBFSH Eventing Championhips in Le Lion d’Angers, SRS Adventure, brought an award to Billy Daly of Scarteen Stud, Newmarket, Co Cork. This gelding, by Billy’s Newmarket Venture out of an Aldato dam, took the bronze medal for Sophie Richards of Barnadown.

Still in eventing, awards were given for three breeders of horses who were on the Irish team that had the superb Irish win in the Nations Cup at Boekelo: Margaret Kinsella of Oughterard for the Jack of Diamonds mare Rioghan Rua out of Highland Destiny by Flagmount King; Alice Keogh of Bridegtown for the gelding Westwinds Hercules by Ramiro B out of Westwinds Clover by Porter Rhodes; and William McCarrison of Banbridge for the Courage II gelding Cooley Rorkes Drift out of a Rachel Comet (TB) dam.

Breeder of the top Irish Sport Horse showing mare was Margaret Walsh of Cahir for Kilkeany Mystic by Ghareeb out of a Coolcorron Cool Diamond dam.

Scoring a hat-trick of wins at these awards was Raymond Sloyan of Ballyhaunis, whose Elm View again had him recognised as breeder of the top Irish draught showing mare for this lovely mover by Elm Hill out of a Sir Revie dam.

Still with the mares, there were again awards for those gaining the highest marks at the HSI Inspections this year.

In the sport horse sector, Owen Horan of Claregalway won for Sliabh Papillon Beaker by Boswell Mr Heart Breaker. The Irish Draught award in this category went to Kenneth and Wendy Bell of Magherafelt for Castleview Farmers Lady by Tors Gentleman Farmer.

A special award in sport horse mare breeding went to well-known show jumper Marion Hughes for having bred the winners both of The Irish Field Breeders Championship and of the Broodmare Futurity Championship at the RDS – Aidensfield Flamenco by Je T’Aime Flemenco out of an Aldato dam took the Breeders and Athena by Heritage Fortunus out of a Ramiro B dam won the Futurity – a unique double that again highlights the strength of Kilkenny breeding.

For the first time in the history of this event, an award was given for the best performance from the Irish pony stud book. This went to Gerard D Leahy of Rathmore, Naas, for Millridge Buachaill Bui by Templebready Fear Bui.

Capt Kelly moves on

Capt Michael Kelly has retired from the Army Equitation School to take up a role with Cian O’Connor’s team at Karlswood Stud. Still under Lt Col Brian MacSweeney’s command at McKee Barracks are Capt Geoff Curran, Lt David Power and Lt Jennifer Larkin.

Allen has French win

At the Lyon World Cup round last weekend, Bertram Allen won Sunday morning’s 1.50m speed with Quiet Easy ahead of Sweden’s Rolf-Goran Bengtsson and world No 1 Scott Brash. This was a Longines rankings event and will help Bertram in his battle to stay in the world top 10. In Sunday afternoon’s cup qualifier, Bertram and Molly Molone knocked one in the first round to place 11th. Trevor Breen had two down on Classic. The event was won by the Oslo round winner, France’s Penelope Leprevost, on Flora de Mariposa by For Pleasure.

Hughes wins GP

Kilkenny’s Marion Hughes won the Grand Prix at Mijas, Spain, on Can Ya Makan. Meanwhile, Shane Carey was second in the Grand Prix in Helsingborg on Continence.