NEWS of the passing of Olympic event rider Sarah Treacy (nee Gordon) earlier this week was greeted with sadness by many.

Sarah lost a long and brave battle with MS on Wednesday in the care of the wonderful staff of St Luke’s Hospital, Co Kilkenny, and was laid to rest in Co Carlow yesterday (Friday) following a service in Lorum Church, Ballinkillen.

Sarah came to Ireland as a young child from New Zealand and was brought up by the late Joan Downie.

When she was just 14, Joan bought the then five-year-old Rathkenny for Sarah. He proved to be a remarkable horse and the combination went on to be members of the Irish Young Rider three-day event teams in 1982 and 1983 and on both occasions won team bronze medals.

In 1984, at the age of just 19, Sarah competed at Burghley and then the Los Angeles Olympic Games, finishing 23rd (all the while still a member of the Wexford Pony Club).

The following year they went to the European Championships at Burghley and also competed at Badminton again. Not content with all that, in 1990 Sarah rode the winner of the Leopardstown Ladies Derby on Tawkin for Denny Cordell.

She also went on to train the Irish Pony European teams on numerous occasions and was much loved by the riders.