THE passing of Ann Lambert, wife for 59 years of the well-known horseman Jack Lambert, was greeted with sadness in her native Wexford and throughout the equestrian world.

Together with her husband, she reared a large family at their Grange Stud in Killinick. The family are known far and wide for their reputation for producing horses in every branch of the sport, hunting, hunt chase, point-to-pointing, eventing, showjumping, riding club, breeding and showing.

Stylish rider

Ann was a very modest lady about her achievements over the years, particularly as she was known as a very stylish rider. Her father, Richard Hickey, was a medical doctor practicing in England for a number of years before returning to Wexford. She got her great love of animals from her uncle Barty Hickey who had a veterinary practice at Wrens Nest on Wexford Quay. She was a lady of many talents as she stood stallions for her father, uncle, and later with Jack, including Symbol, Hunsinger, Prince Rios, Kilmore Heather, and Grange Bouncer.

Ann hunted regularly with her friend Phyllis Power when Matt Roche and Paddy Codd were hunting the Killinick hounds. She held positions on the Stallion Owners Board in the 1960s, and was an active member of the Killinick Pony Club, hosting the All Ireland Pony Club Finals together with Alice Mernagh and Sheila Ryan. She was also a member of the team that helped Fr Seamus Larkin of St Peter’s College host the All Ireland Schools Hunter Trials, inviting international show jumper and event rider Tommy Brennan to design the course. The event was held on the land adjoining the Lambert family Grange Stud.

Her uncle Barty instilled in her an interest in greyhounds, and as a consequence, she owned a number of track and coursing dogs over the years. When the coursing was held on Wexford Racecourse, she always supplied the horse for the mounted judge.

Although she was close to all her family as they pursued different walks of life, she particularly enjoyed the many successes that Jack and the family members had with horses, too many to mention here. Her daughter Ann took over the family stud and had many achievements in horse breeding, riding club, point-to-points, eventing and show jumping. A very special win and one to savour was winning the Irish Draught Performance Championship at the Dublin Horse Show as the family stood some of the best known Irish Draught stallions at their stud.

Her son Tony enjoyed point-to-pointing and has been hunting from an early age, and he continues to hunt near his home in America. Clare’s record of producing eventers and competing at three-star level are well documented, and Clare’s daughter, Corina, has represented Ireland on the international junior eventers team, and also won the Connemara Pony Performance Championship at the Dublin Horse Show.

Stock Walsh recalled that “Ann Lambert was the last lady to ride over the banks course in the Sportsman’s Race at Knockhowlen before the Killinick point-to-point moved to Lingstown”. Family friend James O’Connor said: “Ann Lambert was a talented rider as she had been well tutored from an early age, and because she retired from the saddle before many of her family were born they unfortunately never had the opportunity to see her in action.”

In later years, Ann enjoyed her horseracing on television, and nothing gave her greater pleasure than cheering any of her favourite trainer Gordon Elliot’s horses home.

Her son Tony, who is based in Boston said: “Mom taught us to be gentle and kind with animals and each other, and she will be sadly missed by all the family.”

Ann Lambert is survived by her husband Jack, her sons Tony and Richard, her daughters Ann, Clare, Kay, Jane and Patricia, her sisters Pat, and the late Nancy, Alice, Kitty and Nora, her sons -in-law and daughters in law, her grandchildren, relations and a wide circle of friends.

Funeral arrangements were private.

N.M.