The Guinness GAA Writers' player of the year awards for 1999 have gone to Cork's Brian Corcoran and Meath's Trevor Giles. Cork also provide the winners in the Young Hurler and Young Footballer categories with Diarmuid O'Sullivan taking the hurling award and football captain Philip Clifford winning his category.

Corcoran (26), from the Erin's Own club, is one of the decade's most accomplished hurlers. Texaco Hurler of the Year at the age of 19 in his debut season in 1992, he has hurled consistently well over the years despite the difficulties endured by the county hurling team in that period.

After a solid Munster campaign, he gave exceptional displays at centre back in the All-Ireland series and was awarded RTE's Man of the Match accolade after victory over Kilkenny in the final.

Giles is 24 and earns this award for the second time, having been also elected in 1996. Recognised by many as the best footballer in the country, he recovered this year from a cruciate ligament injury and had a huge impact on Meath's triumphant championship campaign.

From centre forward, he dictated the tempo of his team's attack and was the dominant attacking force in the Leinster final defeat of Dublin and the grinding All-Ireland semi-final win over Armagh.

Quieter in the final, he nonetheless emerged in the closing quarter to assert himself when the match was on the line.

This year's Young Hurler of the Year is Diarmuid O'Sullivan. From the home of Christy Ring in Cloyne, he is a veteran for an under-21 - this was his third senior championship season. An immense presence at full back, he imposed himself physically on opponents and his powerful striking frequently switched play to the other end of the field.

His footballing counterpart is Philip Clifford who, despite being only 19, played a captain's part in his county's surprise Munster final win over Kerry before going on to be Man of the Match in the All-Ireland semifinal win over Mayo and to acquit himself well in the final defeat by Meath.

Now in its fifth year, the awards' scheme is balloted on by the membership of the GAA Writers Association, which will stage a presentation lunch at the Guinness Hop Store this Friday.

Other nominees were: Footballer of the Year: John McDermott and Ollie Murphy (both Meath); Hurler of the Year: DJ Carey (Kilkenny) and Brian Whelahan (Offaly); Young Footballer: Nigel Crawford (Meath) and Dessie Dolan (Westmeath); Young Hurler: Henry Shefflin (Kilkenny) and Wayne Sherlock (Cork).

Equestrian Sport: Captain John Ledingham, best remembered for his back-to-back victories in the Hickstead Show Jumping Derbies in 1994 and 1995, has retired from international competition, writes Grania Willis.

Ledingham (41), rode in his first Nations Cup at Lucerne in 1980 and has since represented Ireland on 59 Nations Cup teams, including five Aga Khan cup wins at Dublin. He carried the Irish flag at four European championships, the Seoul Olympics and at three World Championships.

He made his Hickstead debut in 1984 and collected the Boomerang trophy after his victory in the prestigious Hickstead Derby with Gabhran. Ten years later he returned to the Sussex showgrounds to claim the Derby with Kilbaha and the Speed Derby with Castlepollard and then repeated the feat the following year.

Captain Ledingham is due for promotion to the rank of Commandant. He will remain at McKee Barracks as chief instructor and second-in-command at the Army Equitation School.