Teenage Jockey, Jane Mangan announced as Sportswoman of the Month

Teenage Jockey, Jane Mangan has today been named The Irish Times / Irish Sports Council 'Sportswoman of the Month' for April 2013. Irish jockey Jane was recently thrown from her mount to be denied victory in the closing yards of the Foxhunters' Chase in Cheltenham.

Mangan had jumped the final fence on Oscar Delta clear of the opposition and was driving to the winning post when the horse swerved to the left, sending Jane tumbling to the ground. That left 2-1 favourite Salsify to win. "It felt like I was in a Disney film, when I hit the ground I thought I was dreaming," she said of the experience.

The 19 year old, Cork native who is rising up the ranks in Ireland has been around horses her whole life. Her brother Paddy was a professional jockey and her father Jimmy Mangan trained Monty's Pass to win the Aintree Grand National in 2003. This is the first time Jane has won the 'Sportswoman of the Month' award.

The accolade of winning the Irish Times/Irish Sports Council 'Sportswoman of the Month' means Jane will be the fifth of 12 sportswomen to be in the running for the prestigious title of 'Sportswoman of the Year' at an awards ceremony in December 2013.