AN historic photograph was taken at Ballynoe last Sunday as the winner of the concluding older mares’ maiden, M’s Princess, was greeted by seven and a half month old Leighton Hickey whose father Adrian was saddling his first winner of the season.

Also on hand to welcome the Kadeed seven-year-old back in were Leighton’s mother Noelle Reidy and his grandmother Mary Hickey. His uncle, Martin Hickey, who too was recording his first victory of the campaign, partnered the very consistent M’s Princess to her three-parts of a length success.

More obvious in the photograph than young Leighton are Noelle’s two home-bred, nine-year-old litter sister Boxers, Cuddles and Smasher, who are well-known on the southern point-to-point circuit and beyond. “They go everywhere with Noelle,” said Hickey. “She’s mad keen on eventing and they have been to Badminton and Burghley with her.

“I was delighted to get than win on Sunday with M’s Princess as she really deserved it as she has rarely run a bad race. She’ll go for the winners of one at Fermoy (Ballyarthur) on Sunday week. I’ve got five horses in work including the home-bred Dalus King who was fourth at Ballynoe in the older geldings’ maiden.”

Waiting to come back into work at Halfway, Ballinhassig is Noelle’s eventer Hip Hop Malibu. Hickey may not see too much of his fiancée and her dogs in another couple of months. “She’ll be away eventing for the summer,” he stated.