JESSICA Harrington has won The Irish Times/Irish Sports Council Sportswoman of the year lifetime achievement award. The award was presented to Jessica by the Minister for Arts Sport and Tourism Mary Hanafin TD. The award was based on Ms. Harrington’s achievements as international Three Day Event rider and subsequently as a racehorse trainer.

At the same ceremony, Irish show jumper Jessica Kurten won the February award. She won the award for the seventh time, making her the only sportswoman who has won the monthly award in every year since they began. She won this due to her triumph at the Swedish World Cup Qualifier in Gothenburg in February, which lifted Kurten to third in the World Cup rankings and guaranteed her place in the World Cup finals.

Jessica Harrington grew up in Meath and as a child was a member of the Meath Pony Club. In April 1958 at only 11 years of age she was on the victorious team when the Meath Hunt won the All-Ireland Pony Club Championships at Castletown House in Celbridge. Three years later, as a 14 year old, she won the under 17’s title at the English Pony Club Championships in Oakham.

In 1967 Jessie and her brother John became the first brother and sister to be on the same team when they represented Ireland at the European Three Day Eventing Championships in Punchestown. Jessie made her debut at the Badminton four star in 1967 riding Ginger Nut. In 1981 she won Punchestown and finished 5th at Badminton. Jessica returned to Badminton in 1983 and finished third on Amoy who was bred and owned by her father. In 1986 she won Punchestown again on another home bred, Coppit.

Jessica Harrington represented Ireland at three European Championships in 1967, 1981 and 1983 and at the substitute Olympics in Fontainebleau in 1980, the World Championships in Luhmuhlen in 1982 and the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984.

Jessica has also contributed significantly to equestrian sport and is currently a board member of the Irish Horse Welfare Trust (IHWT) and Horse Sport Ireland.

Horse Sport Ireland Chairman Joe Walsh congratulated Jessica Harrington on winning the award.

“Very few people can be successful at two sports. To be an Olympic event rider and prolific trainer of winners at Cheltenham is a phenomenal achievement. Jessica has also given a huge amount back to her sports particularly through the Irish Horse Welfare Trust. I am delighted that she has been given this lifetime achievement award by The Irish Times and The Irish Sports Council at this stage of her career and I am sure there are many more achievements to come,” he said.
 

Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport, Mary Hanafin TD, left, with Jessica Harrington