FORMER Irish Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association CEO Shane O’Dwyer completed the six-day Paris2Nice cycle this week and he is still welcoming donations for Anam Cara despite having already exceeded his €15,000 target.

Donations can be made up until October 7th on idonate.ie/fundraiser/ShaneODwyer, but why put off until tomorrow something you can do right now.

Shane, a keen cyclist, is part of Team Anam Cara, and he and his fellow teammates crossed the finish line on Thursday having cycled 800km. Shane left his role at the ITBA to become CEO at Anam Cara Parental and Sibling Bereavement Support.

Shane and his team members undertook this arduous cycle, often in searing heat, to raise badly needed funds for Anam Cara. Each year in Ireland, approximately 3,000 families are affected by the death of a child. Anam Cara is there to support those parents and their families whose child has died, irrespective of the age or cause of death of that child.

The work of this charity is particularly close to Shane’s heart, and that of his wife Orla. On January 19th, 2011, their world was turned upside down following the death of their beloved son, Cillian. After that Shane received great support from Anam Cara, and now that journey has seen him become the charity’s head.

In addition to getting funds to support this great work, Shane also asks that anyone affected by the death of a child should reach out to Anam Cara, which operates throughout the 32 counties, and information can be found on their website anamcara.ie

THERE was a huge racing contingent present at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night for the final of the BoyleSports Irish Derby. The winner of the feature received a whopping €125,000.

The favourite, The Other Kobe, triumphed in style, and in so doing made history. For trainer Jennifer O’Donnell it was a case of déjà vu, as her star emulated his brilliant litter brother, Born Warrior, by racing to Derby glory. Owners Brian Clare, David L’Estrange and Aidan Walsh purposely bought their star, on the recommendation of Teddy Hegarty, to win a Derby and their dream came true in the most emphatic fashion.

Success

Aidan Walsh and his wife Caren are well-known racehorse owners and in the lead up to this Derby win they enjoyed success twice on the racecourse. As Caren said, prophetically, prior to the final: “Don’t these things happen in threes?”

Many familiar faces from the world of racing were present for a great evening’s entertainment, including Jim Bolger, Shark Hanlon, The Irish Field’s Leo Powell, Dundalk’s Jim Martin and the track’s chairman, Leo McCauley, HRI’s Martin Murphy and David Jennings from Racing Post.