Champion Trainer Aidan O'Brien was presented with a £4,000 cheque yesterday for being the leading trainer on the three Co Kerry tracks of Listowel, Tralee and Killarney during 1997. O'Brien was winning the Kerry Group-sponsored award for the third time, but this year beat Willie Mullins into second place by a record cumulative score of 210 points. Mullins received a cheque for £2,000, while Dermot Weld took the third place prizemoney of £1,000.

O'Brien also received an additional £2,000 for being the leading National Hunt trainer at the Kerry festival meetings. The Ballydoyle trainer accepted the awards at a special lunch at Leopardstown yesterday.