Local girls meet their idol, who shows she's a role model on and off the track

Loughnavalley's Béibhinn Elliffe and Lauren McLoughlin won't forget their trip to Kilbeggan Races on Friday evening anytime soon.

The horse mad youngsters were lucky enough to meet their idol, the Aintree Grand National winning jockey Rachael Blackmore, after her win in The Kiernan Steel Handicap on Brave Way.

Béibhinn's mother Orfhlaith  said that the girls were a bit starstruck, but that Rachael put them at their ease.

"Rachael was very nice. People were stopping her for photos prior to her races and she had no problem stopping for a few. After her winning race people asked her again and she said she needed to go in to the weigh-in, but she would come back out which she did straight away. That’s when the girls got their photo. She was very obliging and really nice which was lovely for the girls.

"It was just so lovely to see a woman in sport that girls can look up to being so nice," she said.