Last week, The Irish Field presented six prestigious annual equestrian awards to outstanding riders in the disciplines of show jumping, dressage and eventing, as well as the coveted Contribution to the Industry Award.

An additional 12 ‘Star of the Month’ winners, plus an overall winner were presented at the celebratory lunch held at the K Club in Kildare.

Tokyo Olympian Heike Holstein from Carbury, Co Kildare, won Rider of the Year for her achievements as one of the greatest dressage riders Ireland has ever produced.

Holstein appeared at her fourth Olympic Games for Ireland in Japan last year, riding her home-bred mare Sambuca.

Wexford international show jumping rider Harry Allen won Junior Show Jumper of the Year. A team silver medal with his horse Guinness at the Young Rider European Championships earned him a call up to the Irish senior show jumping team competing at Drammen where, on his debut, he jumped a brilliant double clear.

It was another hectic year for Offaly international senior show jumping rider Darragh Kenny who joined the celebration via Zoom from the Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida, to be awarded Senior Show Jumper of the Year. Highlights from a hugely successful year for Kenny include winning the five-star Global Champions Tour Grand Prix in Monaco with Idalville d’Esprit and competing at the Tokyo Olympic Games with VDL Cartello.

Equestrian journalists, Kildare husband-and-wife duo Louise and Tony Parkes were celebrated in style as host Brendan McArdle surprised them with the Contribution to the Industry award. The Parkes are two of the most recognisable faces on the Irish and international equestrian circuit, both tirelessly serving the industry for decades.

Kildare’s Ben Connors picked up Junior Event Rider of the Year after a memorable year in 2021 taking home two medals from the FEI Eventing European Championships for Ponies in Strzegom, Poland. A personal best dressage score, clear inside the time cross-country and a clear show jumping round saw Connors help the Irish team to win Team Bronze before going on to claim Individual Silver with Connemara Pony Cornafest Fred.

Irish international event rider Austin O’Connor was awarded Senior Event Rider of the Year after making his third appearance at an Olympic Games in Tokyo last summer, finishing in 13th place with the Salty Syndicate’s Colorado Blue, bred in Cork by Kate Jarvey.