Blackmore - the humble pioneer who transformed racing
The daughter of a dairy farmer and a school teacher, she rode ponies as a child near her home in Killenaule, County Tipperary, in the Republic of Ireland.Blackmore gained a degree in equine science with hopes of becoming a vet but combined her studies with riding out and competing as an amateur.Her first winner came aboard Stowaway Pearl for John 'Shark' Hanlon at Thurles in 2011, and she turned professional four years later.Much of her success came through an association with trainer Henry de Bromhead, while some of her early opportunities can be attributed to Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary and his Gigginstown House Stud team."We identified Rachael early on as a very good jockey - not a female jockey - and we put her on all the Gigginstown Horses with Henry and Joseph [O'Brien]," he said after her National victory."Her hard work and intelligence has done all the rest."
Instinct, timing, tactical awareness and strength all played a part in her story. But also the ability to bounce back from falls and injury, plus sheer hard graft.When she rode six winners to be leading jockey at the 2021 Cheltenham Festival, she may not have returned to grand fanfare at a meeting held behind closed doors because of Covid-19 restrictions, but the impact was still felt. Her tally was more than the entire British training contingent.Before Blackmore, and fellow jockeys Lizzie Kelly and Bryony Frost, successes for female jockeys at Cheltenham were a rarity and largely came through amateur riders Katie Walsh and Nina Carberry.With Walsh, Carberry and Kelly now retired and Frost moving to France after finding opportunities limited since winning a bullying case against fellow jockey Robbie Dunne, it will be interesting to see if other women can rise to the fore in jump racing.Just two days ago, Hollie Doyle passed Hayley Turner's record for winners by a female jockey on the Flat, but Blackmore was only of only two professional women - the other being Isobel Williams - riding at this year's Cheltenham Festival.
While Blackmore has not outlined the reasons for her retirement, Walsh and Carberry stopped at similar ages before starting families.They ended their careers with winners at Ireland's showpiece Punchestown Festival and maybe Blackmore intended to do the same, but she unusually ended the recent meeting without a victory.She suffered a bad neck injury in a fall earlier this season and only returned to action in December after three months out.Blackmore took success for women to another level, competing for a historic Irish champion jockey title before twice finishing runner-up to Paul Townend.Her achievements transcended racing. Victory in the National, watched by an estimated 500 million people worldwide, made headlines around the globe, and she was voted World Sport Star at the 2021 BBC Sports Personality awards."The support has been incredible. I got such a kick out of being on that list of nominees," she said.Those nominees included tennis star Novak Djokovic, boxing great Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez and American football quarterback Tom Brady.Blackmore, whose partner Brian Hayes is also a jockey, did not revel in the limelight - she preferred to get on with the business of riding winners - but spoke thoughtfully when interviewed.De Bromhead said she was a great support after his 13-year-old son Jack died in a riding accident in September 2022.The pair's victory with Honeysuckle in the horse's swansong in the Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham in March 2023 sparked jubilant and emotional scenes.Spectators grabbed every vantage point to cheer the winner into the paddock. The roars were for the trainer and horse, but the rider too. Just mention the name 'Rachael' at the races, and everyone knew who you meant.With Honeysuckle in the winner's enclosure, a rainbow appeared on the horizon."We all wish a very special kid could be here today but he's watching down on us," said Blackmore.Her partnership with Honeysuckle was a great match. Seventeen wins from 19 races, including four at the Cheltenham Festival. All with the same jockey on board.Blackmore will be remembered for a series of firsts, and potentially paving the way for others."Ah, look, it's brilliant, but I won't be the last. I'm delighted for myself anyway," she said after winning the National."I just hope it shows it doesn't matter, male or female. Plenty of people have gone before me and done that - Katie Walsh was third here on Seabass. All those things help girls coming along, but I don't think it's a major talking point any more."When Blackmore won the Gold Cup on A Plus Tard, she earned praise from the Cheltenham Festival's all-time leading rider Ruby Walsh."She's inspiring kids everywhere. It's incredible the interest she's driving in the sport. You need role models like that for the sport and the industry, she's box office," he said.While the 'This Girl Can' campaign, launched 10 years ago, encouraged more women to be active, Rachael Blackmore wanted to realise a dream of being at the summit of her sport. This girl did.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Belfast Telegraph
11 hours ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Instonians' Anna Ellerby takes five wickets to help Ireland defeat the Netherlands
The Instonians left-arm seamer had the excellent figures of 5 for 14, while CSNI's Emily Carville took three wickets as the Dutch were dismissed for 83 – Manouk Bruijn top-scoring with 28. Ireland's batters were soon in trouble in the chase, slumping to 24 for six with Mia Van Egdom taking three wickets. They were rescued though thanks to an unbroken seventh wicket partnership of 60 between Merrion's Aisling Lawlor, who made an unbeaten 28, and Clontarf's Genevieve Morrissey who scored 25 not out in the four-wicket win. Earlier, Ireland had won the morning game by 33 runs in another low scoring contest. Irish senior international Alice Tector top-scored with 24, and Bready's Millie Spence hit three boundaries in a quickfire unbeaten 21 as the Girls In Green made 118 for 8. CSNI opening bowler Vanessa Minford took three wickets in the Dutch reply as they were bowled out for 85 – skipper Lara Leemhuis making 20. There were also wickets for Erin Bond, Emily Carville, Anna Ellerby, and Millie Spence in a fine bowling effort. Ireland are back in action when they play Scotland on Tuesday afternoon, whom they also meet on Thursday morning.
The Independent
12 hours ago
- The Independent
Henry Pollock, Dan Sheehan and five players who could shape the next British and Irish Lions tour
With a series victory secured in Australia, the British and Irish Lions hierarchy now head home to debrief the tour and begin to look ahead to their next trip to New Zealand. A number of changes to the structure of the quadrennial adventure are on the table as the Lions prepare to take on the All Blacks in 2029, a journey that will follow the inaugural women's tour to the country in two years' time. Sketching out a squad at this stage would be pure folly – so much can and will change in the next four years, while the identity of the head coach, even if Andy Farrell again, will dictate plenty. New stars will emerge in the intervening period while others will fade, though one hopes that each nation's fluctuating fortunes will come together to leave a more equal spread of representation across the squad. While any predictions of this ilk are purely speculative at this juncture, here are five players who could shape the series next time around: Caelan Doris, Ireland Let's begin with something of a forgotten man in the last seven weeks, a would-be skipper denied his first British and Irish Lions tour by the most cruelly-timed injury. Caelan Doris had established himself as both certain starter and leadership linchpin ahead of a 2025 trip where he surely would have thrived. It is a slightly strange quirk that Jack Conan has started the last six Lions Tests without ever really commanding a first-choice place at No 8 for Ireland. Having turned 33 during the trip, his time in red is surely at an end, perhaps clearing the way for another Irishman to take the shirt. Perhaps the Doris/Farrell axis will have found a way to end their nation's World Cup woe by then… Henry Pollock, England As a learning experience for a young player experiencing a quite extraordinary rise, the Lions tour felt just about perfect for Henry Pollock. The 20-year-old flashed at times, showcasing his unique blend of speed and skill in wide channels and the work as a connector and collector that earmarks him as such a special prospect. It always felt, though, a long shot that he would feature in the Tests given the depth of options available on the flanks. One would expect Pollock to be fully established at international level by the time the 2029 tour rolls around. That said, the England back row room is suddenly looking incredibly crowded – Tom Curry's standards refuse to slip, Sam Underhill was back with a bang in Argentina, Ben Curry and Ben Earl are incumbent options; Guy Pepper looks a force on the rise. Add in Tom Willis and Chandler Cunningham-South and Pollock might have a fight on his hands for autumn involvement. Dan Sheehan, Ireland One unsavoury clearout on Tom Lynagh slightly marred an otherwise exemplary trip to Australia for Dan Sheehan. The Irish hooker set the tone right from the very start Down Under, captaining and scoring inside the first two minutes of the win over the Western Force. A hooker very much in the modern mould, his lineout darts can go forgotten but he was rock solid in that area in contrast to a couple of his colleagues until the wretched conditions of the third Test. At only 26, he must have another tour or two in him. Farrell clearly rates his leadership, too, and may look to further develop that side of Sheehan's game in the run up to the 2027 World Cup after a significant recent loss of experience from his Irish squad. It is tough to see, at this stage, a challenger emerging for the Lions hooker berth but watch out for Kepu Tuipulotu down at Bath. Macs Page, Wales Probably the boldest call of this quintet but there is so much to be excited about Macs Page. In a relatively compact frame, Page packs plenty of pace and power and his capacity to play at outside centre and on the wing is valuable in an era where backline positional versatility is increasingly a must as six/two benches become more and more common. Page toured Japan with Wales this summer without making an appearance but his time will surely come after a solid season with the Scarlets. The return of Louis Rees-Zammit, who is thought to have agreed a deal with the breakaway R360 league but may still return to traditional club rugby beforehand, could complicate matters, and others including Mason Grady and Blair Murray will also be eyeing those outside back spots under new Welsh coach Steve Tandy. Of versatile backs elsewhere, the development of Jamie Dobie may be one to monitor with the Scotland scrum half increasingly deployed as a wing option. Maro Itoje, England Already assured of a rich Lions legacy for his role in three tours so far, would a return to the nation where he first made his name in the famous jersey appeal for Maro Itoje in four years' time? There is little reason why a durable and uber-consistent figure cannot make it to New Zealand in 2029 with the lock continuing to hit the high peaks of which he is capable and bedding in nicely as a captain, too. It is now eight straight Test starts for the 30-year-old after an initial outing off the bench in 2017 – surpassing Alun Wyn Jones's professional era record of nine is surely in Itoje's sights. The Saracens and England forward has spoken about a possible retirement at the age of 35, a birthday that would come mere months after a possible fourth Lions tour.
The Guardian
12 hours ago
- The Guardian
Rosie O'Donnell: Common Knowledge review – sentimental sermon with a self-mocking edge
A month ago, Donald Trump branded comedian Rosie O'Donnell a 'threat to humanity' and threatened to revoke her US citizenship. Judging by this fringe hour, he'd be welcome to it. Common Knowledge is a hymn of praise to O'Donnell's new home, Ireland, where she and her child Clay moved at the time of Trump's inauguration. Clay, who is non-binary, is the other focus of the show, and of their mum's rapturous affections, in a set that's more a love letter to these two presences in the 63-year-old's life than it is let-it-rip comedy. The show is bookended by reflections on O'Donnell's mother, whose death when our host was 10 years old is recounted in a solemn opening. Now a parent to five adopted children, motherhood is clearly a major concern of the comedian, and here we get the whole story, with a slide show, of how Clay arrived in her life. Autistic, prodigiously intelligent, fearlessly truth-telling, this is a child who dismays and instructs their mother in equal measure. That cycle supplies the show's rhythm: we get the funny story about Clay's behaviour, then the earnest lesson O'Donnell has derived from it. That, combined with a sonorous and sentimental quality to the storytelling, can make Common Knowledge more sermon than standup. At points, it's a rallying call for autism awareness. Elsewhere, it plays like a heartfelt thank you to Ireland (which she keeps referring to as 'here') for saving the New Yorker from depression and the disintegrating US, with O'Donnell starry-eyed at how safe, cheap and progressive her perfect new homeland seems to be. But the earnestness is regularly punctured with self-mocking comedy, as with the tale of Rosie and her then teenage son's joint visit to her therapist; or the story of her mistaking the friendliness of her new Irish pharmacist for flirtation, with humiliating consequences. There's no standup cut and thrust to this: O'Donnell cleaves tightly to her script and stately delivery. But the tale she's telling means a lot to her and she tells it authoritatively, and with enough irony, self-reflection and (Trump, take note) humanity – to make it engaging for the rest of us. At Orchard at the Gilded Balloon, Edinburgh, until 10 August All our Edinburgh festival reviews
