Cameron Hanley returned to Ireland on Monday to accept his prize at the prestigious The Irish Field Awards in The K Club in Straffan, Co Kildare. Hanley, who made a remarkable return from injury in 2013, was presented with the senior showjumper of the year accolade.
Germany-based Hanley had been sidelined since June 2011 when he injured his knee in a freak accident while playing with his children in his garden at home. He returned to action last February and highlights included a Grand Prix victory at Wiesbaden, being part of Ireland's winning Nations Cup team at Spruce Meadows Nations Cup and winning team bronze at the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Final in Barcelona last September.
Hanley, who paid tribute to his wife Evelyn, said: "It was good to be back in the saddle, but the highlight was to be in the Irish Nations Cup team in Calgary. It may not have been the biggest Nations Cup, but to jump a double clear and be representing Ireland once again was fantastic."
Bertram Allen made a flying visit to Ireland and was presented with the inaugural Gain Horse Feeds/The Irish Field Star of the Year Award. Along with winning an individual silver medal at the European Junior Championships, he was the leading international rider at the Dublin Horse Show and clocked up a host of victories across Europe during the season.
© Press release from Horse Sport Ireland.
