National Hunt Awards 08/09

Another remarkable year for Irish National Hunt Racing was celebrated at the annual National Hunt Awards dinner which was held in Adare, Co Limerick, last night, Sunday 12 July 2009.  The awards which are organised by the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee was attended by over 200 guests from the world of Irish National Hunt.  In all 12 awards were presented.

Among the honoured on the night were riders Nina Carberry, Ruby Walsh and Tony McCoy; point to point rider Derek O’Connor; and the father and son combination of Willie and Patrick Mullins both of whom had also won awards in 2008 at this function.

Ruby Walsh took the Leading Jockey Award for the fifth year in succession and for the seventh time in the last eleven years.  He had another tremendous season with victories on Kauto Star and Master Minded at Cheltenham and no less than 10 winners at the Punchestown Festival.
 
Nina Carberry who took the Leading Lady Rider Award for the fourth year in succession and her sixth award in all, having also won awards as Leading Amateur Rider in 2006 and 2007.

Tony McCoy, who’s sister Roisin Shivers accepted the award on his behalf, received the Special Achievement award for another record breaking season that saw him land his 14th successive jockey’s title in Britain.  During the year he also recorded his 3000th winner in Britain – a fantastic achievement. 

The Point to Point award went to Derek O’Connor who rode a brilliant 113 winners
from 354 starts – a strike rate of almost one winner every three rides, as Michael Doyle Senior Steward of the INHS Committee pointed out in his speech at the awards.

In paying tribute to all the winners Mr Doyle singled out Willie Mullins who he said had ‘reached new heights when landing his fourth Champion Trainers title in that he saddled no less than 12 winners at the prestigious Punchestown National Hunt Festival back in April.  In addition to his feats at Punchestown, Willie also recorded three Cheltenham Festival winners”.

Mr Doyle also paid tribute to Dr Vincent O’Brien and Mr Tom Costello, two remarkable men who had passed away during the year but whom both had achieved huge success in the world of National Hunt.

Leading Lady Rider: Miss Nina Carberry

Leading Qualified Rider: Mr P W Mullins

Point to Point Rider: Mr Derek O’Connor 

Leading Claiming Prof Rider: A.P. Cawley

Leading Trainer of Mares:       

1.    Mrs John Harrington
2.    W.P. Mullins
3.    C.A. Murphy

Champion & Leading Trainer:  W P Mullins

Champion Owner: J.P. McManus

Leading Jockey: Ruby Walsh

Leading Stable Employee: Tim Finn

Special Achievement: A.P. McCoy

Contribution to the Industry: Irish Field