Advertisement

'When I got the tube in my side, my lungs were punctured, I realised things were more serious then'

Robbie McNamara was due to ride Lord Windermere in the 2015 Aintree Grand National. The day beforehand, his life changed forever.

THE DAY BEFORE the 2015 Aintree Grand National, jockey Robbie McNamara was gearing up for one of the biggest races of his glistening career.

He was due to ride Lord Windermere, winner of the Gold Cup at Cheltenham the previous year. But first, before crossing the Irish Sea and heading for Liverpool, he just had to get through two races in Wexford.

McNamara’s first ride was a horse called Bursledon in the opening race of the card at 3.55pm. As it turned out, that was to be his last-ever race as a jockey.

This is Robbie McNamara’s story:

The42.ie / YouTube

Rather than resenting horses, or the sport that took the use of his legs from him at the age of 26, McNamara has now fallen in love with training – a path he had always intended on following at some stage.

He was helped through the rehabilitation and low periods by his first cousin, John Thomas McNamara, who himself was paralysed from the neck down in a fall at Cheltenham in 2013; John Thomas sadly passed away in July of last year due to complications arising from the injury.

The fall may have called time on McNamara’s career as a jockey at 26-years-old, but not before fulfilled an ambition that had been eating away at him since he started riding.

Following in the footsteps of his father, who was also a successful trainer, McNamara has built up a yard of roughly 25 horses beside the Curragh, and he fully intends reaching the top of the sport as a trainer.

The42.ie / YouTube

The42 has just published its first book, Behind The Lines, a collection of some of the year’s best sports stories. Pick up your copy in Eason’s, or order it here today (€10):

McGregor-Mayweather fight voted the most memorable Irish sporting moment of 2017

Sell out! Record crowd to watch Munster-Leinster St Stephen’s Day clash

Close
Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ger Punch
    Favourite Ger Punch
    Report
    Jan 28th 2015, 8:43 AM

    So he won’t comment on Costa regarding two stamps but has an opinion on every decision that went against him. A dose of wengeritis me thinks.

    53
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eoin Hurley
    Favourite Eoin Hurley
    Report
    Jan 28th 2015, 8:43 AM

    Funny, when etoo kicked Suarez in the box last year he was adamant that wasn’t a penalty. So what’s he yapping about this time?

    45
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Laura Walsh
    Favourite Laura Walsh
    Report
    Jan 28th 2015, 11:34 AM

    Etoo also made a horrendous challenge on a Liverpool player in the first two mins of that game last year also if my memory serves me correctly. Howard Webb bottled that game, as per usual.

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Graham Kavanagh
    Favourite Graham Kavanagh
    Report
    Jan 28th 2015, 1:03 PM

    Oscar almost crippled Lucas in that game too, he got a yellow and he was remorseful, but still, these things show how lucky Chelsea have been. They should have the worst disciplinary record in the league.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Johnny Bravo
    Favourite Johnny Bravo
    Report
    Jan 28th 2015, 9:32 AM

    Costa is probably facing a ban , so Maureen won’t comment on it cause he doesn’t want to implicate him even more then what he is already

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Graham Kavanagh
    Favourite Graham Kavanagh
    Report
    Jan 28th 2015, 12:34 PM

    Johhny, when has Maureen ever talked about it when it is about his players? But, if against his team, he is willing to destroy the reputation of a ref, or like he did with Suarez, call them terrible things to the game…… Suarez was/is an immature player, prone to very stupid things, but he loves football 100%, has the skills to back it up. Costa plays for Chelsea, so it is ok.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Hoof Hearted
    Favourite Hoof Hearted
    Report
    Jan 28th 2015, 10:14 AM

    “Great campaign. We know how much that pundit loves Chelsea and particularly loves me. When you are there and you are paid and you are very well paid – much more than some managers that have to put their ass, every 90 minutes, every weekend on the bench.

    “These guys, they have a very good seat, very good money, no pressure. They are always right. They never lose, they always win, but they have to be fair and they have to be honest. I don’t know his name, because when I see him I switch off the television.”

    Classic Mourinho !

    3
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel