Frighteningly the year 2005 is closing to an end all too rapidly - and with the years end come the festivities that go along with the holiday spirit!

It seems like only yesterday that 2005 was just beginning and now it is the end of October and Christmas and New Year are looming.

For the equestrian world the end of the year in the northern hemisphere signals a quietening down of competition and many turn their horses out for a well earned winter break - in the southern hemisphere the competition circuit is in full swing and holiday fun is slotted in amongst the rigorous demands of having competition horses.

In Ireland the Dressage fraternity are the first to celebrate their end of year awards in a good old fashioned party which was a black tie affair held in Wicklow at the Glenview Hotel.

The National titles were awarded for the year after the National Championships were:

National Dressage Champion 2005 - Heike Holstein and Weld Adel

National Dressage Champion Under 21 - Aine Cafferkey and Najac

National Dressage Champion Young Rider - Aine Cafferkey and Najac

National Dressage Champion Junior - Bill Delahoyde and Ashton

National Dressage Champion Pony - Melanie Mackey and Pancho

2005 Abbeyleix Owen Trophy "Best Connemara Pony 2005" - Milford Scirocco and Shauna Finneran

2005 Irish Draught Society Trophy "Best Irish Draught 2005" - Beezies Sue and Simone Hession

The evening was a very flash affair with everyone in their evening finery and looking sensational - there was a sigh of relief when Kevin O'Sullivan - pictured below left - from Druid Hill Stables in Arklow, arriving late as usual, looked very suave in his tails complete with dress shirt and "dickie bird" tie after last years fashion boo boo of arriving in jeans and shirt!