Twenty seven young people graduated from the FÁS Trainee Jockey programme at the Racing Academy & Centre of Education (RACE) on Friday 12^th June and will be taking up employment in the industry shortly.

Five girls were among the group who successfully completed the ten-month residential programme and were presented with their certificates by RACE chairman John Oxx and FAS manager John Costello at a ceremony on the Kildare campus.

This year’s graduates received a full FETAC Level 4 award in Vocational Studies plus a European EQUES qualification in riding, stable management and French language.

Main prizewinners on the day included David Parkes from Middletown, Co. Armagh who won the ‘Trainee Jockey of the Year’ award, Conor Ring from Charleville, Co. Cork who won the ‘Most Improved Rider’ award and Megan Dillon from Finglas in Dublin who won the ‘Derek O’Sullivan Award’ for overall contribution to the course. David will be signed as apprentice jockey to James Burns, while Conor is commencing work with Adrian Sexton and Megan is remaining with Michael Grassick.

Gerard Galligan from Naas, who is due to sign apprentice forms for Dermot Weld shortly, won the ‘Sportsman of the Year’ award for his efforts in physical education and fitness training modules.