WHATEVER the weather was like at Down Royal for yesterday afternoon’s National Hunt meeting, we doubt if the track’s head groundsman, Shane Webb, was dressed as shown here.

A former county footballer for Carlow at Minor and Under 21 level, Shane’s main competitive interests these days lie in athletics and, although living at the racecourse and training at the Mary Peters Track in Belfast, he still represents his Co Carlow club.

He did so last weekend at the first stage of the Irish Life Health national track and field championships at Morton Stadium, Santry where things didn’t go to plan in his 100m heat.

“I didn’t perform too well unfortunately,” said Shane on Wednesday. “However, on a more positive note, I ran a season’s best in Belfast earlier last week in my preferred event over 200m (23.3 secs) and will be competing in the 200m at the Nationals this coming Sunday (tomorrow).”

Downpatrick stages its Bank Holiday/Ladies Day fixture on Monday and although this is taking place behind closed doors, racecourse manager Richard Lyttle and his team are running a virtual best-dressed competition for which all details can be found on the track’s Facebook page.