The announcement received a standing ovation from the members present at the Racket Hall Country House Hotel in Roscrea, Co Tipperary.

An enthusiastic member of Clonlara Riding Club, Shellie’s devotion to her club was legendary. On one occasion, she rescheduled an appointment with her neurologist because it clashed with a show organised by her club and on another, rang her club mates to catch up on competition news less than two hours after life-threatening surgery.