2014 graduate Stephen Thorne won the Leads by Example Award at the Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards on Monday, May 21st.
Godolphin Flying Start General Manager Clodagh Kavanagh with Stephen Thorne
A total of ten awards, worth €84,000 were presented by former All-Ireland footballer for Meath and RTÉ GAA analyst, Colm O’Rourke. Richard Forristal, Editor of the Racing Post in Ireland, acted as MC for the occasion.
The 10 winners and runners-up for the 2018 Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards are:
Irish Racing Excellence Award
Pat Farrell, Stud Groom, Moyglare Stud, County Kildare
Administration Award
Gillian Carey, Operations Manager, Fairyhouse Racecourse, County Meath
Runners-up:
Denis Hickey, Racing Secretary, Ballydoyle, County Tipperary
Vicki McWey, Supervisor Registrations Department, Horse Racing Ireland, County Kildare
Newcomer Award
Georgie Benson, Stable Lass, Gordon Elliott, County Meath
Runners-up:
Joanne Eaton, Stable Lass, Willie McCreery, County Kildare
Charlie Sweeney, Pupil Assistant/Second Head Lad, Eyrefield House Stud, County Kildare
Horse Care Award
Mary Nugent, Travelling Assistant, Gordon Elliott, County Meath
Runners-up:
Emma Connolly, Travelling Head Lass / Assistant Trainer, Noel Meade, County Meath
Sinead O’Sullivan, Head Girl, John Murphy, County Cork
In The Saddle Award
James Rath, Head Lad, Liz Doyle, County Wexford
Runners-up:
Audrey O’Neill, Exercise Rider & Groom, John Oxx, County Kildare
Josep Sans Sanchez, Head Man, PJ Prendergast, County Kildare
Travelling Head Person Award
Camilla Sharples, Travelling Head Girl, Gordon Elliott, County Meath
Runners-up:
Tina Evans, Travelling Head Girl, Joseph O’Brien, County Kilkenny
Jason Forsyth, Travelling Head Person, John Oxx, County Kildare
Leads by Example Award
Stephen Thorne, Assistant Trainer, Adrian McGuinness, County Dublin
Runners-up:
Tom Daly, Assistant Head Man, Dermot Weld, County Kildare
Valerie Keatley, Head Girl, Johnny Murtagh, County Kildare
Dedication to Racing and Breeding Award
Pat Farrell, Stud Groom, Moyglare Stud, County Kildare
Runners up:
Eamonn Leigh, Headman, Jessica Harrington, County Kildare
Tommy Ryan, Head Lad, Edward O’Grady, County Tipperary
Racing and Breeding Support Services Award
Martin ‘Snowy’ Pearse, Facilities Manager, Punchestown Racecourse, County Kildare
Runners up:
Martin Leahy, Master Farrier, Bruff, County Limerick
Sharon O’Regan, Head of Operations, Weatherbys Ireland GSB Ltd, County Kildare
Racecourse Award
Fairyhouse Racecourse, Ratoath, County Meath
Bernard Caldwell, Chairman of the Irish Stablestaff Association, said: “Congratulations to all of this year’s award winners and finalists. Stud and stable staff play a vital role in Irish racing and breeding so it’s great to see their skills and dedication rewarded. I would like to thank Godolphin for their extremely generous sponsorship, our media partners The Racing Post and Horse Racing Ireland who organised the entire event.”
Diana Cooper, Strategic Advisor, Charities, for Godolphin, said: “Godolphin is honoured to sponsor the Irish Stud and Stable Staff Awards which this year received a record number of nominations. The judging panel had a very difficult task in picking the category winners, each of which emerged from very strong fields. Congratulations to all and thanks also to their colleagues who nominated them. Tonight’s awards showcase the dedication and talent which make this a great industry.”