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Rachael Blackmore - A UL graduate and champion jockey has won two prestigious sports awards in just 24 hours, BBC World Sport Star of the Year and RTE Sportsperson of the Year. Rachael Blackmore - A UL graduate and champion jockey has won two prestigious sports awards in just 24 hours, BBC World Sport Star of the Year and RTE Sportsperson of the Year.

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UL graduate jockey Rachel Blackmore wins prestigious RTE and BBC sports awards 

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Rachael Blackmore – A UL graduate and champion jockey has won two prestigious sports awards in just 24 hours, BBC World Sport Star of the Year and RTE Sportsperson of the Year.

UL graduate jockey Rachel Blackmore wins prestigious RTE and BBC sports awards 

By I Love Limerick correspondent Rachel Petticrew

Rachael Blackmore Blackmore, who studied equine science at the University of Limerick, made history early this year as the first woman to win the Cheltenham Grand National.

Blackmore, who studied equine science at the University of Limerick, made history early this year as the first woman to win the Cheltenham Grand National.


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UL graduate and champion jockey, Rachael Blackmore, has won two prestigious sports awards in just 24 hours. 

On Sunday, December 19, Blackmore received the prestigious BBC World Sport Star of the Year Award. The award has been in contention since 1960, with past winners including sporting legends Mohammed Ali, Christiano Ronaldo and Usain Bolt. Blackmore is the first woman and first Irish person to receive the accolade. 

Just 24 hours previous, the Tipperary native was named RTE’s Sportsperson of the Year 2022, beating seven other sports stars to the top spot, including Limerick’s Cian Lynch and boxing icon Katie Taylor.

Blackmore, who studied equine science at the University of Limerick, made history early this year as the first woman to win the Cheltenham Grand National, atop racehorse Minella Times. 

Not content with such a feat, the pair then went on to take the Aintree Grand National steeplechase title, another first for female equestrians.

Many were eager to congratulate Blackmore on her recent award success. 

President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins said on the presidential Twitter account, “Congratulations to Rachael Blackmore for her double achievement over the weekend in winning the RTE Sportswoman of the Year and the BBC World Sport Star of the Year.”

The University of Limerick also congratulated the triumphant jockey, saying, “Enormous congratulations to UL graduate Rachael Blackmore, who has been crowned BBC World Sport Star of the Year. This comes just 24 hours after winning the 2021 RTÉ Sportsperson of the Year award. A fantastic achievement! We’re so proud to have Rachael as an alumna.” 

For more stories on sport, go HERE 

For more information on BBC’s Sports Personality Awards, go HERE 

For more information on the RTE Sportsperson of the Year Awards, go HERE 

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