THE death in late August of Christine Walsh robbed North Co Dublin and the wider Leinster area of a national show jumping judge who readily accepted invitations to officiate and conscientiously carried out her duties no matter what the level of competition.

Christine was the second-youngest of six children born to the late Charlie and Kathleeen Proudfoot in Drumcondra, on the north side of Dublin city. This might seem an unlikely area for an introduction to equestrianism, however, as explained by Christine’s lifelong friend, Thereze Szauer, there were horses on their doorstep.