The year has been a big one for 18 year old Nicola Fitzgibbon from The Curragh in County Kildare having completed her Leaving Certificate with a top class score and finishing as number 6 Junior rider in Europe after a very successful European Championships held in Switzerland in July this year.

Nicola has managed to combine her studies with top level competition and achieve highly in both. Nicola and her mother, Kathryn's Andiamo gelding, Puissance have been highly competitive in the IJM Summer Grand Prix League and she has also been in the winner's circle with Equestrian What A Joker and Joie de Vivre and towards the end of this year adding a young, green horse to her team.

Nicola is a popular competitor on the Irish circuit and also on the continent at the International Young Rider shows and during 2006 she generously loaned her mare, Joie de Vivre, to visiting Australian Young Rider Amy Graham - something many riders would not offer so willingly. Nicola has earned herself a standing invitation to Australia for her generosity and she is determined to take up the offer of a visit, when her competition schedule allows.

Nicola began college this year and is studying Computer Science fulltime at Trinity College in Dublin but continues to compete and is looking forward to a strong result for 2006 as she hopes to again compete for Ireland at the European Championships as a Young Rider this time. Nicola has represented Ireland twice at Junior level and was also a very successful Pony Rider in both 138's and 148's with superstar ponies Miami Bound and Forever Reunited.

Nicola is greatly appreciative of her parents, Kathyrn and Nick's great support of her competitive dreams and is no stranger to the hard work involved in having a competitive string of horses and the continuing support of her Trainer, Jack Doyle from Kill, County Kildare.

Being awarded the Young Rider of the Year obviously came as a great surprise to Nicola and was not something she nor her parents expected as Nick and Kathryn Fitzgibbon were not at the Ball having stayed on in America after Nicola's nieces christening, while Nicola flew back to enjoy the Ball - fun which was heightened by taking this prestigious award.

This quietly spoken young lady is humble of her own ability and is constantly heard to say "no no my horse did the hard work" but she is fiercely competitive and determined to ride to International level so make no mistake about Nicola - she has goals and quietly works away at achieving them.