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Nina Carberry, who recently became the second female jockey to win the Irish Grand National, has been awarded The Irish Times/Irish Sports Council 'Sportswoman of the Month' award for April.
At a tender 25 years of age, Nina is well on the way to achieving legendary status and is seen by many in the sport as the best female jockey to have graced the turf, and no doubt her successful performance at Fairyhouse has boosted the Irish horse racing scene and will encourage increased female participation. Carberry's run on that Easter Monday was flawless aboard her inexperienced six-year-old horse, Organisedconfusion, whereby she finished a strong five lengths ahead of her nearest opponent, Western Charmer. Organisedconfusion became the first six-year-old to win the race since Tartan Ace in 1973 and pundits are applauding Nina as a professional rider living an amateur status!
Since gaining her first winner on the Noel Meade-trained Sabrinsky in the Ladies Derby at the Curragh in 2001, Nina Carberry has rapidly become one of the best-known faces in Irish racing; a remarkable feat for an amateur rider. Her Festival tallies include, Champion Bumper at Punchestown, Cheltenham and the Aintree Grand National!
Nina has won the Sportswoman of the Month Award on five occasions since the awards began in 2004. Back in 2005, she took her first award due to her Cheltenham success, when she won on Dabiroun in the Juvenile Novices' Handicap Hurdle, becoming the first woman rider in almost 20 years to win a professional race at the Festival. The 24 year old Meath jockey, who comes from a family steeped in horse racing, will join Irish female rugby captain Fiona Coghlan, golfing twins Lisa and Leona Maguire and cross country runner Fionnuala Britton in the race for the overall accolade of The Irish Times/Irish Sports Council Sportswoman of the Year 2011.
Established in 2004, the aim of the Sports Woman of the Year awards is to recognise the abilities and achievements of women in Irish sports. The awards run over a twelve month period, with the judges selecting a winner each month for her ability to excel at sport. From the twelve monthly winners, the overall Sportswoman of the Year is selected and announced.
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