Irish National Stud students graduate from breeding course

Outgoing students of the Irish National Stud Breeding Course gathered for their graduation ceremony at the County Kildare operation on Wednesday evening.

In the presence of family, friends and industry leaders, stud chief executive Cathal Beale - himself a graduate of the scheme - conducted the evening's proceedings.

All 25 of the students received an Irish National Stud diploma for completing the course and a number of students were also given special recognition for their achievements.

The girls took top honours for the evening with American Samantha Cripps being awarded The Gold Medal and Emma Hannon received the Silver Medal as well as the INS Internship award.

However, the boys also took their share of the limelight with William McNeile taking home The Irish Field Blue Hen award for his article on Ebaziya, the dam of Group 1 winners Ebadilya, Enzeli, Edabiya and Estimate. Robert ‘Bobby’ Kehoe was granted the John Durkan Opportunity, an award that commemorates the former course graduate who identified the potential of Istabraq.

Other awards were granted to:

Thomas Kehoe (Ireland) - First Place Veterinary Exam
Michael Balaz (Canada) - First Place Written Exam
William McNeile (Great Britain) - First Place Portfolio of Assignments
Thomas Leffray (France) - First Place Continuous Assessment

Individual award winners L-R William Mc Neill, Thomas Kehoe, Samantha Cripps, Emma Hannon, Michael Balaz, Thomas Leffray, Bobby KehoeCredit: INS Graduates 2017