Students from Castleisland got to meet renowned jockey Rachael Blackmore, after winning a national horse racing competition.
Castleisland Community College students - Shauna O’Keefe, Miriam and Abbie O’Connell, and Katelyn O’Keefe - won the Agri Aware and Equuip From Foal to Race school programme.
They were rewarded with a trip to Punchestown Racecourse where they met Rachael Blackmore, had a track walk with jockey Sean Flanagan and they also shadowed Wexford trainer Paul Nolan.
The Agri Aware and equuip joint initiative is a free programme to introduce transition year students to all aspects of horseracing.
Over 4,000 students from 120 schools got involved in ‘From Foal to Race’, which shines a light on the equine sector with six modules in al; the topics include breeding and stud farms, making a racehorse and horse basics.
Castleisland Community College teacher, Kellie Sheehy says it was a fantastic programme, adding the students were thrilled to win the group project element as it gave them an insight into the horse racing and breeding industry.
