Latest news with #CancerTrialsIreland
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
I was a Grand National jockey shown ‘lifeless' at Aintree after horrific fall – now I'm making a comeback for my kids
A FORMER Grand National jockey shown 'lifeless' on the Aintree turf to millions after a devastating fall is ignoring doctors and making a shock return to the saddle. Davy Condon, who looked destined to be racing's next big thing after being snapped up by Advertisement 3 Davy Condon was a superstar jockey but saw his world come crashing down in a horrific Grand National fall Credit: Alamy 3 A Cheltenham Festival-winning rider, he had banged in winners for Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott Credit: Alamy 3 But Condon was forced to retire after millions watching on home saw his limp body lie motionless on the Aintree turf following a fall from Portrait King in the 2015 National The Irish rider, who TV images showed face-down in the mud as on-course medics rushed to his side, was left with 'spinal concussion' and forced to retire aged 30. Condon was one of the top riders at the time, a teenage sensation-turned-Cheltenham Festival winner and Group 1 champion. But his world came crashing down that Saturday afternoon ten years ago when he was launched from Portrait King at the third-last fence in a Grand National won by Many Clouds. "I was lying on the ground. I couldn't move," he recalled. Advertisement He spent two nights in hospital as a result with doctors ultimately telling him it was too dangerous to ride again. Condon officially called it quits later that month and admitted to 'feeling lost' in the days afterwards. But a decade later he has decided to risk it all again and race at the Curragh in Ireland later this year. Condon will don his silks, lace up his boots and grab his whip for the Pat Smullen Charity Race on August 30. Advertisement Most read in Horse Racing The contest raised funds for Cancer Trials Ireland and is run in honour of nine-time champion Irish jockey Pat Smullen, who died from pancreatic cancer in September 2020. Condon, dad to two young boys aged four and six, said he was moved to race again partly because of them. He told the Condon, who worked as an assistant for Gordon Elliott before going to break in horses for Shadwell in Dubai only to return as assistant to Cheltenham Festival-winning trianer Cian Collins, said: "I wanted to ride in a charity race as a kind of mid-life crisis thing! Advertisement "I have two young boys who are four and six and they never saw me riding. "They see the photos and are always asking me questions. "I told my cousin Paul Townend I wanted to do a charity race and he pointed me in the direction of this one at the Curragh. "I was emotional telling the children I was going to be in the race. Advertisement "They were jumping around the place, all excited." Condon won millions in the saddle, having been signed by Mullins at an early age. He was a Grade 1 winner under the all-conquering Closutton boss, landing the 2007 Supreme on 40-1 outsider Ebaziyan. Condon and Mullins also had success with the likes of serial winner Homer Wells, Holy Orders, Our Ben and Jayo. Advertisement But it was with Noel Meade and Gordon Elliott he would enjoy later victories, his final Grade 1 being the Irish Daily Mirror Novice Hurdle aboard Morning Assembly at Punchestown in April 2013. Donate to his FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. . Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Read more on the Irish Sun Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chases their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – Gamble Aware – Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here. Advertisement
The Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- The Sun
I was a Grand National jockey shown ‘lifeless' at Aintree after horrific fall – now I'm making a comeback for my kids
A FORMER Grand National jockey shown 'lifeless' on the Aintree turf to millions after a devastating fall is ignoring doctors and making a shock return to the saddle. Davy Condon, who looked destined to be racing's next big thing after being snapped up by Willie Mullins upon leaving school, was paralysed in the horrendous 2015 spill. 3 3 3 The Irish rider, who TV images showed face-down in the mud as on-course medics rushed to his side, was left with 'spinal concussion' and forced to retire aged 30. Condon was one of the top riders at the time, a teenage sensation-turned-Cheltenham Festival winner and Group 1 champion. But his world came crashing down that Saturday afternoon ten years ago when he was launched from Portrait King at the third-last fence in a Grand National won by Many Clouds. "I was lying on the ground. I couldn't move," he recalled. He spent two nights in hospital as a result with doctors ultimately telling him it was too dangerous to ride again. Condon officially called it quits later that month and admitted to 'feeling lost' in the days afterwards. But a decade later he has decided to risk it all again and race at the Curragh in Ireland later this year. Condon will don his silks, lace up his boots and grab his whip for the Pat Smullen Charity Race on August 30. The contest raises funds for Cancer Trials Ireland and is run in honour of nine-time champion Irish jockey Pat Smullen, who died from pancreatic cancer in September 2020. Condon, dad to two young boys aged four and six, said he was moved to race again partly because of them. He told the Racing Post they never saw him in the saddle - and now can't wait to see why dad used to be such a big deal. Condon, who worked as an assistant for Gordon Elliott before going to break in horses for Shadwell in Dubai only to return as assistant to Cheltenham Festival-winning trianer Cian Collins, said: "I wanted to ride in a charity race as a kind of mid-life crisis thing! "I have two young boys who are four and six and they never saw me riding. "They see the photos and are always asking me questions. "I told my cousin Paul Townend I wanted to do a charity race and he pointed me in the direction of this one at the Curragh. "I was emotional telling the children I was going to be in the race. "They were jumping around the place, all excited." Condon won millions in the saddle, having been signed by Mullins at an early age. He was a Grade 1 winner under the all-conquering Closutton boss, landing the 2007 Supreme on 40-1 outsider Ebaziyan. Condon and Mullins also had success with the likes of serial winner Homer Wells, Holy Orders, Our Ben and Jayo. But it was with Noel Meade and Gordon Elliott he would enjoy later victories, his final Grade 1 being the Irish Daily Mirror Novice Hurdle aboard Morning Assembly at Punchestown in April 2013. Donate to his GoFundMe page here. . Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who:
Irish Examiner
23-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Examiner
Working Life: Radiation oncology is like virtual surgery, where you deliver targeted treatment
Professor Gerry Hanna, Marie Curie chair of clinical oncology at TCD, and vice clinical lead, Cancer Trials Ireland 'I'm originally from Newcastle, Co Down. I completed my training in hospitals in Belfast and Amsterdam, and took up a consultant post in Belfast. I was then appointed as director of radiation oncology at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne, Australia's largest cancer centre. All my family — my wife Suzie, a GP, and children Alice, Patrick and James — moved there in 2018. 'We loved Peter Mac and Australia, but missed friends and family in Ireland and came back in 2021. I love being home. It's a good opportunity to build on our cancer infrastructure and keep Ireland on the map. 'When I was a junior doctor, I was drawn to trying to turn things around for people with cancer. It's a very holistic specialty, often you are supporting patients for long periods or maybe curing them or extending their lives. I wanted to practice a form of medicine that was people-centred. 'Radiation oncology is like virtual surgery, where you deliver targeted treatment without opening people up. Prof. Gerry Hanna, Vice Clinical Lead at Cancer Trials Ireland: "The hard part of the job is when patients relapse, or when you can't offer a treatment to change the course of the disease in any meaningful way." Picture: Moya Nolan 'The hard part of the job is when patients relapse, or when you can't offer a treatment to change the course of the disease in any meaningful way. This can be very distressing. But overall oncology can be a very uplifting specialty to work in. 'I wear a number of hats. I'm a consultant in radiation oncology at the St Luke's radiation oncology network and the Trinity St James Cancer Institute. "I'm also vice clinical lead at Clinical Trials Ireland, an organisation that sponsors and manages Irish-led cancer trials, as well as working with international research groups and global pharma companies. 'Clinical trials are crucial for examining new treatments and for assessing their safety and efficacy. They offer patients an opportunity to try new treatments that may improve their outcomes, such as a person's survival from cancer or reducing the risk of cancer coming back. 'Most patients who take part in clinical trials do so because they know it will help patients in the future. 'Clinical trials are also really important for hospitals, as they bring higher levels of oversight, and this high quality of care creates an ethos of excellence among clinical teams.' As part of its 'Just Ask' campaign, Cancer Trials Ireland is encouraging people with cancer undergoing treatment to 'just ask' their doctors about the clinical trial options open to them. More details:
