Galway Girls Dreams Come True!

What: The St. Patrick’s Cheltenham Charity Derby in aid of Cancer Research UK

Where: Prestbury Park, Cheltenham

When: Thursday 17^th March 2011

Who: Jockey – Niamh Flynn Owner & Trainer – TBC…..

In less than seven weeks I will be one of the lucky twelve riders picked to ride in this years St. Patrick’s Day Cheltenham Charity Derby in aid of Cancer Research UK coming up that famous Cheltenham Hill. Along with the other riders, who include Gordon Elliott, Killian McCarthy and Frosty Kelly, we have one main aim, to raise as much funds as possible for this brilliant charity.

When chosen for the race, an email arrived clearly marked “Top Secret” and we were under strict instructions to keep our great news to ourselves. This was particularly difficult as I had begun riding out again and people were quizzing me on my unexpected visit to Gordon Elliott’s yard.

My first morning back in the saddle at Capranny went surprisingly smooth. Gordon allocated me four lots, three that took me around the gallop without any problems and one not so smooth. It was great to be back in the saddle again although I had been riding out from time to time.

That evening I began pressure , my legs, arms and back ached and I thought if I feel like this now, I will surly be crippled next morning! And how right I was.

News broke that I had been accepted to ride in the Cheltenham Charity Race and I have to say I felt like a super star! There was great media coverage, even on my own “Galway Bay FM”! I could now tell the world that I was getting this opportunity of a lifetime.

I knew a plan had to be put in place to drum up sponsorship as I have quite an amount to raise. My good friend Joanne Quirke and I put our heads together and came up with the idea of a raffle and a table quiz. As soon as the idea was planted in my mind, I began ringing around friends and family, calling in favors and looking for them to donate prizes. They came up trumps.

So here’s the plan, a table quiz to be held on February 25^th 2011 at Fergies Bar, Kilmessan, Co. Meath. Quiz Master on the night is none other than Mr. Matt Chapman of At The Races Fame! Also on the night, there will be a monster raffle which I am currently selling tickets for – €20.00 each. The prizes that have been donated are just amazing.

Now that I had a plan to generate sponsorship, it was time to put the fitness regime into place. As I can only ride out at weekends, I have to build up and maintain my fitness by exercising. I began by jogging. Much to my surprise, on my first run I managed to go for 5km!

The weekend came around again and so did another early morning at Capranny! I rode four lots and was just heading out the gate when Simon McGonagle shouted “Where are you going? I stuck you on another one! If you want to ride in Cheltenham….!” So five lots in Gordon’s and another two at my boyfriend, Peter Parkhill’s yard! I think that was good enough preparation for Cheltenham for one day!

We headed to Punchestown yesterday. There was some good racing but I had an alternative agenda….Armed with two pens and a rather large bundle of tickets, I took to the bar prying on any familiar faces I saw. Again people were so generous and I collected loads of money to get me that bit closer to my target of £5,000. I also spoke to a couple of “People in the know” who I have to chat to during the week. They have promised to help me get the best possible horse for the day. Watch this space!

So everyone put it in your diary, February 25^th at Fergies Bar, Kilmessan for the table quiz to help me along the road to Cheltenham. It promises to be a great night. To purchase tickets for the raffle, phone me on 086 1728320 or email me on nflynn@tattersalls.ie and if you would like to sponsor me, click on my Just Giving page – http://www.justgiving.com/Niamh-Flynn or make a lodgement in any AIB Branch to account number 937096 18997583.

Thank you!

Niamh x