PRIZE-GIVING – CONCLUSION OF THE 2015 SEASON
Report by Berry McCrae
Over one hundred members and friends of NICDA, including representatives of the British Driving Society (NI) Branch and the Horse Sports Ireland-Carriage Driving Section, joined together on Saturday 10th October at the Bannville Hotel, Banbridge to celebrate the end of the 2015 driving season with a Dinner Dance and Distribution of Awards.
Following a welcome from the Club’s President; Gordon Bell, the evening commenced with a lovely Dinner before awarding the cups and trophies to the successful Champion and Reserve for each class in the Points League. In addition, special trophies were awarded to the highest Overall Novice and Open class winners, an up-and-coming Junior Whip as well as an Encouragement Shield, which is awarded to a newcomer to the sport who had shown promise without being a class winner. A beautiful silver Friendship Quaich was also presented by Mary Bryson, from Scotland, who with her late husband Bill have had a close association with the club over many years. This Quaich is awarded for the highest average dressage score, alternating each year between the Novice and Open classes. Finally all members of the club voted, on the night, for the Sports Personality of the Year, which is awarded to someone who had demonstrated commitment and hard work on behalf of NICDA during the current year.
Mary Bryson presented the following with their trophies and rosettes:
Class Champion Reserve
Pre-Novice: Christine Wright Georgina Morrison
Novice Pony: Judith McKeever Felce Dawn O’Donnell
Novice Horse: Emma Berwick Vincent Duggan
Novice Pony Pairs: Ross Ewing Denise Taylor
Open Pony: Julie Ingram Des Sheridan
Open Horse: Jeffrey Lyons Neil Kearns
Horse Pairs: Robert McNeill Pete Noone
Pony Four-in-Hand: Richard Logan John Goodwin
Overall Novice: Ross Ewing Overall Open: Jeffrey Lyons
Junior Whip: Georgina Morrison Encouragement Shield: Catherine Lyttle
Bryson Friendship Quaich: Jeffrey Lyons
Sports Personality: Berry McCrae
On conclusion of the award presentation, everyone demonstrated their dancing skills to a live band of three talented young musicians; Mark, Rory & Ben “Major Third”. All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable evening was had by everyone, culminating a great year of horse driving trials.
