A GROUP of willing sponsors, including Coolcronan House, Duffy-Ekberg Stables, Cllr. Seamus Weir, Stonehall Stud, Tiernan Gray, Deane Rogan, Shorefarm Stables, Shore Farm and South Sligo Stables pitched in for the €3,000 Jack Dodd Memorial class at Ballina Show last Sunday.

“The class wouldn’t run without the sponsors and it’s such a feel-good competition,” said Trish Twomey Dodd about the 1.10m speed class, ran off in blazing sunshine.

The youngest sponsor was 16-year-old Sarah Kelly, who donated a cavaletti to Pataire Crawford, this year’s winner with Jackstar.

“I live in Achonry on our family farm South Sligo Stables, where we breed and produce showjumping horses. I’ve always been around shows as we have a few coffee carts and work at a lot of shows. My parents Frank and Kellie Cadman are indeed my biggest supports and absolute top role models.

“I started the business just over a year ago as I saw a niche in the market so decided just to do one or two cavalettis to start and was overwhelmed with the response. I followed Jack on social media and having met his father David, I just wanted to contribute to the Jack Dodd Foundation,” added the young entrepreneur.

“I think that’s one of the best things to come out of the Foundation,” said Trish about the initiative, set up four years ago in memory of hers and David’s son Jack, who tragically passed away in June 2018 after a road accident.

“Jack’s story seems to encourage so many very young people to believe in themselves. It’s crazy how young some of them are but I love to see it. I just feel ‘Go Be Brilliant.’”