Jockey Olympics at Naas on Sunday for GOAL

Jamie Heaslip & Hector join forces for GOAL & the Jockey Olympics on paddypower.com Cheltenham Trial day at Naas Racecourse this Sunday.

Who:- Jamie Heaslip, Hector O’hEochagain, Nina Carberry, Paul Carberry, Barry Geraghty & Davy Russell

What:- The Jockey Olympics in aid of Goal

Where:- The Parade Ring, Naas Racecourse, Naas, Co.Kildare

When:- Sunday 26th February 2.30pm & 3.45pm

Rugby International Jamie Heaslip will referee the Jockey Olympics at Naas Racecourse this Sunday 26th February. He will be joined on the day by the master of ceremonies, Hector O’hEochagain who is the MC for the event.

Nina Carberry will captain the newly established ladies team who will be going for gold against three men’s teams. HRI NH Ambassador Davy Russell will Captain the team of Mark Walsh, Tom Doyle, and Alan ‘Birdy’ Crowe. Paul Carberry will be hoping the training pays off for Davy Condon, Niall ‘Slippers’ Madden & Keith Donoghue. The pressure is on Barry Geraghty as his team were victorious last year and he will be hoping his new team of Robert ‘Puppy’ Power, John Cullen, Paddy Flood will deliver on the day.

The event will see jockeys get competitive to support the GOAL Horn of Africa Appeal. The competition will incorporate three events, an egg and spoons race, a three-legged race and the final event will be a relay race when they will be required to pass off the whip as their baton. GOAL will have a bucket collection on the day to raise funds for the Horn of Africa.

The events will take place in the parade ring in two sessions:- Part 1, after the 2nd race at 2.30pm and after the 4th race at 3.45pm. The first race is off at 1.45pm.

Nina - who put her honeymoon on hold to get back to the track following her recent wedding to Ted Walsh Jnr, unveiled her ambitions to lead the newly established ladies team to victory. She said: - “This is the first ladies team to be involved in the Jockey’s Olympics and 2012 is an official Olympic year so we are out to win. Katie Walsh scored the winning goal last year so we’ll be taking lessons from her in preparation for the big day.”

Last year, the prestigious honour went to Meath man Barry Geraghty’s team of Robert Power, John Cullen, Alan Crowe and Paddy Flood who gave their all and were crowned the 2011 Jockey Olympians; there was clear delight as the team did a lap of honour around the parade ring making sure the other team captains could see their delight!

However with 2012 being an Olympic year, and the games being held on our doorstep across in the water in London, the stakes seem that little bit higher.

The ladies clearly have their eye on the prize and they may well be the ones to watch with Katie Walsh scoring the winning goal in the football skills event in 2011

Hector O’hEochagain, MC for the Jockey Olympics, said: “Jockeys are renowned for their high levels of competitiveness; this competitiveness will be raised to an all time new level at the Jockey Olympics at Naas racecourse Sunday 26th February. Come and see jockeys out of their comfort zone and into the Olympic zone!”

Tom Ryan, Manager of Naas Racecourse, said: “We are delighted to be involved with the Jockey Olympics this year again; our Team Captains Barry, Nina, Paul & Davy are masters at their own game so I’m looking forward to seeing them adapt their talents for our Olympic challenges. I hope a huge crowd turn out to support GOAL’s efforts and cheer on their favourite team for what should be a very unique raceday. On the racing side, this card in 2009 produced four horses that went on to score at Grade 1 level, cementing the meetings reputations as a stepping stone to greatness. Golden Silver was a gallant 4th in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham after winning the paddypower.com Chase last year.”

The teams for the Jockey Olympics are as follows:

• Barry Geraghty’s Team: Robert ‘Puppy’ Power, John Cullen, Paddy Flood.

• Paul Carberry’s Team: Davy Condon, Niall ‘Slippers’ Madden & Keith Donoghue.

• Davy Russell’s Team: Mark Walsh, Tom Doyle, Alan ‘Birdy’ Crowe.

• Nina Carberry’s Team: Katie Walsh, Kate Harrington & Liz Lawlor.