RACING:HURRICANE FLY was yesterday crowned Ireland's Horse Of The Year for 2011.

An unbeaten 2010-2011 campaign by Hurricane Fly included a brilliant Champion Hurdle victory at Cheltenham which provided trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Ruby Walsh with their first victories in that race. Hurricane Fly’s prize crowned a good day for Mullins, who also collected the National Hunt award at the Horse Racing Ireland Awards in Leopardstown. It was the champion trainer’s third win in a row in that category.

Joseph O’Brien completed a momentous 2011 by collecting HRI’s flat award. The 18-year-old was champion apprentice for the second year running with a record 57 winners and also made his mark at Group One level with a classic success on Roderic O’Connor added to later in the season by the top two year old’s Maybe and Camelot. He also scored a memorable Breeders’ Cup victory on St Nicholas Abbey at Churchill Downs last month.

Derek O’Connor won the point-to-point prize, while Nina Carberry collected an Outstanding Achievement award for landing last Easter’s Irish Grand National on Organisedconfusion.

Legendary Curragh trainer Dermot Weld was honoured with a Contribution To The Industry award for his role in the internationalisation of Irish racing. Weld has trained over 3,500 winners in Ireland but has also made a huge impression worldwide, including famously winning two Melbourne Cups with Vintage Crop and Media Puzzle.

Pressed to nominate a single highlight to his career however, Weld opted for Go And Go’s 1990 Belmont Stakes victory. He remains the only European-trained winner of an American classic.

– Brian O'Connor