Jockey Olympics 2012
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Nina and Paul launch the
Jockey Olympics 2012 with
Hector in Naas Racecourse
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The Jockey Olympics for GOAL were hosted once again by Naas Racecourse, and took place this year on the paddypower.com Cheltenham Trial day on Sunday, February 26th. The event saw top jockeys compete in various sportsday-themed events to support GOAL’s Horn of Africa response.
The inimitable Hector O’hEochagain was back as MC for the event, while the jockey teams took on a series of challenges during the afternoon, all of which attracted the interest of spectators.
The competition incorporated three events, an egg and spoon race, a three-legged race and – last, but not least - a relay in which the jockeys were required to use their whip as the baton.
Top jockeys Barry Geraghty, Paul Carberry, Davy Russell and Nina Carberry were announced as the 2012 team captains, with Nina captaining a new ladies team. “This is the first ladies team to be involved in the Jockey’s Olympics and 2012 is an official Olympic year so we are out to win," she said. "Katie Walsh scored the winning goal last year so we’ll be taking lessons from her in preparation for the big day.”
Last year, the prestigious honour went to Barry Geraghty’s team of Robert Power, John Cullen, Alan Crowe and Paddy Flood, but with the actual Olympics being held on our doorstep in London, the stakes seemed that little bit higher for 2012. The ladies clearly had their eye on the prize and certainly were the ones to watch..
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| Hector and the jockey captains at the launch |
The teams were as follows:
• Barry Geraghty’s team: Robert ‘Puppy’ Power, John Cullen and Paddy Flood.
• Paul Carberry’s team: Davy Condon, Niall ‘Slippers’ Madden and Keith Donoghue.
• Davy Russell’s team: Mark Walsh, Tom Doyle and Alan ‘Birdy’ Crowe.
• Nina Carberry’s team: Katie Walsh, Kate Harrington and Liz Lawlor.
The first race took off at 1.45pm, with the Jockey Olympics taking place in the parade ring in two sessions, the first following the second race and the second after the fourth.
For more information on GOAL’s work in the Horn of Africa, please click here.
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| Nina, Paul and Hector get ready for the GOAL Jockey Olympics |
The teams compete in the three legged-race during last year's event |