TRACEY O’MEARA, Ireland’s first female clerk of the course, had her first official day in the job at Down Royal last Tuesday week and was pleased to report it was a trouble free day. Former clerk Brendan Sheridan was on hand “in case I needed assistance or wasn’t sure about anything”, she related but the only semblance of a problem was with the low-lying sun.

She said: “I’ve encountered it a few times and it was the only issue on the day. Hopefully they’ll all be like that!” Tramore native Tracey, who is in the process of relocating to Edgeworthstown in Co Longford, ideally situated for the four tracks she looks after, the others being Downpatrick, Kilbeggan and Sligo, successfully applied for the IHRB’s position as a part-time clerk of the course based in the midlands and started her role in December.