THE village of Cloyne, Co Cork where I live, will always be best known as the birthplace of hurling legend, Christy Ring.

In recent times locally based racehorse trainers have also enjoyed some degree of success.

Andrew and Aileen Lee paved the way, and last week, Shinahwil provided me with my first winner as a licensed trainer.

Growing up, I played a lot of camogie with my local team, all the while having an interest in horses. My only real contact with them came during school holidays, when I spent time at my mother’s family home in Wexford, where I had a hurley in one hand and a pony in the other.

As I got older, I found myself spending more time with horses - by the age of 12, I was riding out for our near neighbours, Andrew and Aileen Lee.

Over the following five years, I availed of every opportunity to learn from the Lees, spending weekends and school holidays working at the yard.

After finishing my Leaving Certificate at 17, I took out a jockey’s license and rode in a few bumpers and point-to-points. I held a licence until five or six years ago, by which point I had already built up a real passion to go training horses.

In order to get more experience, I branched out and began riding out for other trainers as well. Liam Burke and James Motherway’s yards were quite near to home and during the summers I spent down in Wexford, I visited Liz Doyle’s yard.

Every trainer I worked for did things slightly different and it was a great learning experience, learning how each one had their own way of operating. Liam Burke was flying during the time I spent with him, sending out some big name winners, such as the Galway Plate hero, Sir Frederick.

When I was at the yard his son Johnny was very young, but he has developed into a top class rider and a real gentleman and it was an extra special pleasure to be able to ask him to partner Shinahwil for her Thurles victory.

A little over two and a half years ago, having firmly decided that I wanted to become a trainer, I rented stables from Cyril Wall, initially taking in breakers and point-to-pointers.

Early this year I successfully applied for a restricted trainers’ licence which was granted in May. The following week I saddled my first runner, Supreme Vinnie, who finished fourth under Ciaran Fennessy in a bumper at Mallow and just two months later, he almost provided me with my first win when he was just touched off at Kilbeggan.

He is a horse that I rate very highly, as I feel that he is well capable of winning a bumper before going on to be successful over hurdles. His half-brother, a gorgeous foal by Ask, is one to look out for on the last day of the November sales. Supreme Vinnie and Shinahwil have been real flag-bearers for the yard and so far, we have achieved a winner and four placings, from only nine runners.

Two weeks ago, I moved into a spacious new yard with fantastic facilities, set in quiet and serene surroundings. It boasts a fantastic gallop and the beaches of east Cork are at my doorstep, all which caters for a variety of horses keeping them happy and healthy. I am thrilled my first runner from the new premises was a winner! We are always keen to attract new owners and syndicates to the yard.

Shinahwil had finished third at Tramore. With that good run behind her, I was reasonably confident going to Thurles. Fortunately everything went to plan on the day and Johnny gave her a fantastic ride and the pair combined to give me my first victory as a trainer - a day I will cherish forever.

I was particularly delighted for the mare’s owner, Patsy McKiernan, a true gent, who along with my other owners has been very good to me since I started training.

While the mare always had ability, she had a few problems that we had to iron out, now that we have found the key to her, I believe she will go on to further success.

I am lucky to have Ciaran Fennessy, Pat Collins and Denny Spillane on hand for schooling, while my osteopath Kitty Shanahan, who is top class in her field, has been a big help to me since I started out training.

Amy and Pa Donovan are two other key members of my team - Pa travels everywhere to the races with me, while Amy looks after the yard when we are away from home.

Mike Barrett, who used to write the point-to-point book, is also an invaluable asset, in terms of both experience and advice - he has an encyclopaedic knowledge of horses and form and I am very fortunate to be able to call on him.

We have recently combined to buy and sell horses that you can keep up to date with on our web site www.doshracing.com.

My parents, who have no background whatsoever in racing, have been a real driving force behind me, constantly encouraging me and in truth, I wouldn’t be where I am today, without their help and support.

Denise O’Shea was in conversation with John O’Riordan