Kearns, Burke and Holstein crowned leading Irish breeders for 2020

Heike Holstein (pictured) is the breeder of Sambuca (BESIE) a 2009 bay mare by Samarant (HANN) out of Astoria (ISH) by Limmerick (HOLST).

HORSE Sport Ireland’s (HSI) vision for the future is to have the best riders and horses in the world and it should be recognised that the sporting element of our industry is fundamentally underpinned by our breeding of quality sport horses.

The contribution of the sport horse industry to the Irish economy is more than €816 million per anum and breeding is the largest sector, accounting for a total expenditure of €271 million within the economy. Therefore, it is essential that we continue to celebrate the achievements of Irish breeders especially in a year with such upheaval.

HSI are delighted to continue the international breeder prizes for 2020, with prizes awarded to the breeders of the top three Irish-bred horses in the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH) year-end rankings in Show Jumping, Eventing and Dressage. A sum of €1,500 will be awarded to the leading Irish breeder in each discipline with €1,000 and €500 awarded to second and third in each discipline respectively.

HSI would like to congratulate the breeders of Ireland’s leading Irish-bred horses for 2020; Justin Burke, Ann Glynn, Patrick Kearns, Carolyn Lanigan O’Keeffe, Carmel Ryan and Heike Holstein and would also like to take this opportunity to wish all Irish breeders the best of luck for the 2021 season.

The recipients of this year’s Horse Sport Ireland International Breeder Prizes are as follows:

Eventing:

1^st Patrick J Kearns (Laois) – Breeder of Horseware Woodcourt Garrison (ISH)[was Woodcourt Garrison] – 2009 gelding by Garrison Royal (ISH) out of Davitt Star (ISH) by Furisto (HANN).

2^nd Carolyn Lanigan-O’Keeffe (Kilkenny) – Breeder of Imperial Sky (ISH)[TIH] – 2006 gelding by Puissance (ISH)[TIH] out of Skies Of Blue (ISH)[TIH] by Horos (TB).

3^rd Ann Glynn (Limerick) – Breeder of Shanaclough Contadora (AES) – 2010 Bay mare by Contador (AES) out of Shanaclough Diamond Queen (ISH) by Coevers Diamond Boy (ISH).

Show Jumping:

1^st Justin Burke (Galway) – Breeder of Galway Bay Jed (AES) – 2008 gelding by Romanov (KWPN) out of Nikara (KWPN), by Lux Z (HANN).

2^nd Justin Burke (Galway) – Breeder of Luibanta BH (ISH) – 2008 mare by Luidam (KWPN) out of Mabanta (KWPN), by Abantos (KWPN).

3^rd Carmel Ryan (Waterford) – Breeder of Compelling Z (ZANG) – 2010 grey stallion by Chellano Z (HOLST) out of Cara Mia Z (HOLST) by Carthago (HOLST).

Dressage:

1^st Heike Holstein (Kildare) – Breeder of Sambuca (BESIE) – 2009 mare by Samarant (HANN) out of Astoria (ISH) by Limmerick (HOLST).