Ascot jockeys pay tribute to Tiggy
JOCKEYS at yesterday’s Royal Ascot meeting made a touching tribute to teenager Tiggy Hancock by wearing a yellow ribbon on their silks in her memory.
Tiggy, 15, died after sustaining serious injuries during a training session on Wednesday for the Irish eventing team.
Emergency services rushed to the scene and treated the budding star.
She was brought to Childrens’ Health Ireland in Crumlin, Co. Dublin, where she later died.
Three-time champion jockey Frankie Dettori was among a great number of stars to take part in the tribute at Royal Ascot and Irish jockey Oisín Murphy spoke emotionally yesterday about why the jockeys took the decision to wear the yellow ribbon.
Murphy said: ‘There’s no words to describe how her family are feeling.
‘We all grew up as jockeys riding ponies. There’s nothing that can really describe how they’re feeling. ‘I just wanted to say that we’re all thinking of her and her family.’ Eventing Ireland has asked participants to wear yellow, Tiggy’s favourite colour, at future Irish events. Tiggy’s family, who live outside Bagenalstown, Co. Carlow, have a long connection with equestrian sport.
Parents Frank and Jane moved to Ireland from England more than two decades ago and Tiggy was the youngest of three children with two older sisters Eliza, 25, and 21-year-old Lucy.
Funeral details for the youngster have been confirmed after the horror accident.
The funeral service will take place in the Church of the Good Shepherd in Lorum, Co. Carlow at 2pm tomorrow followed by burial in the adjoining churchyard.