WHILE the grass may grow lusciously on the racecourse in Ballinrobe, its manager John Flannelly could never be accused of letting it grow under his feet.

Voted Racecourse of the Year in 2012, at the annual Horse Racing Ireland awards ceremony, Ballinrobe’s manager and committee have continued to make improvements and they are not finished yet. Planning permission is presently being sought for a new entrance to the racecourse, “one that reflects the quality of the work we have already done inside,” as John told me this week.