National win clinches ninth NH award for Nina Carberry
Carberry became the fourth member of her family to ride an Irish Grand National winner when on Organisedconfusion, trained by her uncle Arthur Moore, she joined her father Tommy and brothers Paul and Philip on the list of Carberry family members to win the National.
Nineteen-year-old Paul Townend took the champion jockey award while Helen Walsh, mother of Ruby and Katie and wife of trainer Ted, was honoured with the National Hunt special award. A successful horse-owner in her own right, Helen was acknowledged for her role in the successes of the Walsh family.
With both Townend and Walsh riding for the Willie Mullins stable it was appropriate that Willie took the champion and leading trainer awards while his son Patrick was named leading qualified rider.
The distinguished service award went to Joe Collins, who was with the Turf Club for over 42 years. Joe started in 1968 as a trainee racing official and went on become senior clerk of the courses.
J P McManus, Wilson Dennison and the Henry de Bromhead Stable were also acknowledged with the champion owner, point to point and stable staff of the year awards respectively.
“Once again, the major festivals in the UK had a certain Irish flavour and I would like to congratulate all those associated with the successes,” said William Flood, of the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee.
