National Hunt Awards presented The annual Irish National Hunt Awards were presented in Adare, Co Limerick on Monday night. The awards which are organised by the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee were presented at a function attended by over 200 guests from the world of Irish National Hunt. In all 13 awards were presented. Among the winners were trainer Willie Mullins and his son Patrick. Willie picked up three awards for his training exploits during the year while Patrick won the award for the leading qualified rider. Patrick, who is still at school in Clongowes Wood College, had a great season including a win at The Cheltenham Festival on Cousin Vinny which was trained by his father. Nina Carberry, who also won at Cheltenham, picked up the leading lady rider´s award for the second year in succession. It was her third year in a row to win an award and her fifth award in all. In 2005/06 and 2006/07 she was both leading amateur and leading lady rider. Ruby Walsh, picked up his sixth leading rider award in the past ten years and his fourth in a row. He had a fantastic year riding 200 winners in Ireland and the UK. His three winners at the Cheltenham Festival also ensured that he was leading rider at the Festival for the third time in the last five years. At the weekend he also rode his 1000th winner in Ireland, reaching that milestone at Sligo. The Distinguished Services Awards went to jockey Conor O´Dwyer who during the season announced his decision to retire as a jockey to pursue a career in training. During a long and distinguished career O´Dwyer won most of National Hunt?s major prizes including two Gold Cups (Imperial Call and War of Attrition) and two Champion Hurdles (both on Hardy Eustace) at Cheltenham. The award for ´Contribution to the Industry´ went to Sean Barry of the Turf Club. Sean who is the National Hunt Registrar has been with the Turf Club over 40 years.years.
