8


info@eastcorkjournal.ie A Legend – Davy Russell by CLAIRE O’DONOGHUE saddle


“A successful year in the led to Davy Rus-


sell’s great achievement of 118 winners (to date). 2018 also saw him achieve the Leading Rider title at Chel- tenham, riding 4 winners, including an easy victory in the Grade 1 RSA Insurance Novice Chase from the Pat Kelly trained “Presenting Percy”. Davy is one of the senior riders in the Weigh- ing Room, highly respect- ed by his fellow riders and trainers. He is a special tal- ent”. The Irish Racehorse Trainers Association. Davy Russell from


Youghal is one of six chil- dren born to Jerry and Phyllis Russell. With a few of his father’s racehorses around the farm, Davy’s in- terest in them soon turned to a passion that would af- fect the rest of his life. Last Saturday, he was awarded the title of Irish Champion Jockey for the third time. He has previously won the Cheltenham Gold Cup, (in


fact, he has ridden winners at Cheltenham every year since


2006), was named


Leading Jockey there for the first time this year and now he has put the cherry on the top with his nail biting, photo-finish win at the Eng- lish Grand National. To say Davy is a good jockey would be


like saying Pavarotti


could hold a tune! He has the high admi-


ration of his peers and, speaking with the East Cork Journal, fellow jock- ey Ruby Walsh had this to say, “Davy is technically a brilliant rider but, to add to that, he is tactfully wonder- ful. He’s as strong as any jockey riding, and has the temperament to handle any pressure”. Let’s go back a little in to when Davy tasted


time


his first zing of success. At 15 years of age, and part of a team of five, his first win was the Hunt Chase in the Cork Show, riding for Killeagh Harriers. He had been “representing Killeagh Harriers in Hunt Chases since he was around 13”


said ex-secretary, Tommy Geary. That foundation cer- tainly seems to have been a solid one, as four of the win- ning team of five from that first victory, went on to be- come professional jockeys. Shauna Draper from


Punchestown Racecourse told The East Cork Jour- nal “I’ve known Davy a very long time; he is con- sidered one of the finest jockeys we have produced here in Ireland. Of course, he started out on the point- to-point circuit and that’s where all the best jockeys have come from. To win his third Championship is a huge achievement, and Davy has had an outstand- ing year with the Grand National winner at Aintree. We’re all delighted for him, he’s a great guy and one of the main supporters of young up and coming tal- ent.


It was a pleasure for us


to see him crowned champi- on at Punchestown”. Husband of Edelle, fa- Jaimee, Lily, Finn


ther of


• Davy Russell on The Late Late Show on Friday night last. (Photo courtesy of RTE).


and baby Liam, riding as a pro jockey and breed- ing horses at home doesn’t leave much downtime for Davy and yet, when asked for anything, it’s “no both- er”. Tommy from Killeagh Harrier recalls asking him this year if he would come to Powers in Mount Uni- acke to present the prizes for the Grand National Sweepstakes which they do every year (and he after winning the race!). As usu- al “no bother” was the an- swer. “He left a little earlier”


Push for New Playground in Carrigtwohill


by SEAMUS WHELEHAN


Continued from front page While the project is not


yet ready for construction, the


group say they currently are seeking sponsor-


ships, donations and ideas from the public on how to proceed. The current playground, a 15 year old structure, is past its useful life and in need of replace- ment. The playground, one of jewels,


Carrigtwohill’s is


so well loved and used that the play furniture is in need of replacing.


The Community Coun- cil is collaborating with Cork County Council on planning the project, and is seeking donations and grants to help get it built. Right now there are gaps


in the play furniture at the town’s play area, as it is not suitable for use by children who are wheelchair bound or have other physical or intellectual disabilities. The


they would like the Project to mirror the recently built all-ability playground in Cobh.


An all-inclusive play-


ground looks just like a reg- ular playground, but small adaptive changes make it more accessible for special needs children to enjoy. The group of six say


community re-


sponse to the project has been positive so far, with almost €10,000 raised from door to door collections. The Carrigtwohill Play- ground Committee


say


they will work with all community groups to dis- cuss what they require. Anyone wishing to get


involved in the venture, can contact the group by email at


carrigtwohillplay-


ground@gmail.com or by phoning 087-2195666


From this September


months to deplete stock.


a


countrywide ban on smoky coal will come into effect, with stockists


given twelve their


Up to now Low Smoke


fuel Zones have mostly been confined to large urban areas such as Cork and Dublin. Coal Merchants will have


until September 2019 to rid their stores of smoky coal before a nationwide ban fully comes into effect.


Tel: 021 463 8000 • Email: info@eastcorkjournal.ie • Web: www.eastcorkjournal.ie


said Tommy “ so he could go home, spend some time with the kids before driving to Dublin, catching a plane and gong to Ayr to ridein the Scottish Grand Nation- al”. All that to do, and he still went back to help out in the place where it all began for him. “It’s a testament to his character”, said Tommy. One that is echoed in the many sentiments sent


to


The East Cork Journal from his colleagues in the last few days. Andrew Coonan of the


Irish Jockey Association said “Not only is Davy a top-class jockey and worthy champion this year again but what most people don’t know is that he is Director of The Irish Jockey Associa- tion. In that capacity, he is a wonderful ambassador who gets involved in helping oth- er riders with any difficulties they may encounter during their racing careers”. Watching Davy race


around all those tracks, it’s just as if we’re galloping along with him. On the racecourse, he brings a thrill to locals and professionals alike. Speaking with broad- caster Tracy Piggott, she said “Davy Russell is one of the finest horsemen I have ever seen. He loves his hors- es and is an absolute joy to watch in a race. He is also a lovely person, and a won- derful ambassador for Irish racing. He has handled both the good and bad days with great dignity and class”. A feeling echoed in the words of local bookmaker, Johnny


Dineen, “Davy has ridden in the Golden Age of Na- tional Hunt Horse racing and has more than held his own. Not only is he one of the best jockeys riding to- day, he’s one of the Top 10 jockeys of all time – and I don’t say that


lightly. His


name and achievements will have their place in the histo- ry books of sport”. This year’s Grand Na-


tional win was Davy’s 14th attempt. He has that qual- ity of going the extra mile, going over and above what it


takes to make a dream


come true. Sure, he’s had his knockbacks but the char- acter we see today, the per- son capable of making that speech after winning, the person capable of admitting his mistakes and amend- ing them, appreciating and acknowledging those who have helped him and continue to help him– that characteristic in an individ- ual could only have been fully realised by failure and success, and by taking both and learning from them. That, in itself, is no small thing but Davy has done it. That is why so many people are so proud- not only of the jockey, but of the man also.


Hector ó hEochagáin


told the East Cork Jour- nal “I’ve known Davy Rus- sell for a good number of years now, a funny, charm- ing and friendly Cork man, full of devilment and wit ... and behind it all, one of the greatest jockeys in the land. I’m very proud of his achievements this season”. Sports people who know all about that extra effort were keen to acknowledge the


values in Davy which got him to where he is today David Meyler, Irish In-


ternational Soccer player, extended congratulations to Davy and complimented his talent and ability “”Con- gratulations Davy! An out- standing jockey, he’s been at the top for many years. It’s great to see a Cork man do- ing so well”. Speaking with Davy it


was clear that, while he of course felt a great deal of pride in all of his accom- plishments, it was now back to business as usual. said, “There


He are brood


mares at home and we’re working on getting even more quality into them. It’s going good but it all takes time and effort. I’ve good help


around me, and I couldn’t get


without them”. He’s a busy man but describes the work at home as “A great outlet.


Thursday, 3rd


May 2018


It keeps my mind occupied as there’s a lot goes on with the racing. There


are so


many different tracks with horses and you meet many different people”. There’s a fire lit under Davy Russell, who was back racing (and winning) on Monday night at


when the eldest jockey on the smallest horse wins The Grand National, there was never really any that!


doubt of “What Davy Russell has


though, it done


achieved in his career, even before his Grand National win, is monumental, and adding that to his achieve- ments to date cements his place in Irish Horse Racing and in Irish Sport. We don’t celebrate our Irish Sporting heroes enough and it’s great to have a local one”. Mary O’Connor, CEO of the Irish Federation


of Sport (and Killeagh Native)


Kilbeggan although,


• Davy with his wife and children as he is crowned Irish Champion Jockey for the 3rd


time.


Ireland to Become First Country to Introduce National Low Smoke Coal Zone


by SEAMUS WHELEHAN


The programme forms


part of the “Powering Past Coal” initiative, a global al- liance of states, regions and businesses dedicated to re- ducing the world’s carbon emissions and battle climate change. According to a study by


the World Health Organisa- tion, Ireland falls below its strict guidelines on air pol- lutants. Ireland is currently gov-


erned by two EU directives that cap the concentration of a number of pollutants. Ted O’Leary from Cork


County Council’s Environ- ment


Directorate says the


total ban will have major health benefits. “It’s a significant initia-


tive, largely an air quality improvement public health initiative.” The burning of smoky coal has been a contributing factor to our poor air quality, responsible


for respiratory


illness, and linked to prema- ture deaths. The Country’s only coal


fired power station, Money- point, is also to phase out its reliance on the fossil fuel.


eastcorkjournal Under the Government


plan the Co Clare site will be producing electricity through cleaner methods by 2025. While it’s not yet certain


how the power will be gen- erated it is expected that the ESB will choose gas as the alternative method. As coal begins


to be


phased out globally, environ- mentalists are also calling for a complete ban on burning peat. Peat is Ireland’s main car- bon based store and is also contributing to our high lev- els of co2.


@eastcorkjournal / #eastcorkjournal


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