GRAND NATIONAL CHAMPION DEREK FOX GETS A CIVIC RECEPTION
A huge crowd turned out at County Hall on Easter Sunday evening to welcome home Sligo’s latest sporting hero, Derek Fox, who just a week ago rode ‘ One for Arthur’ to win the 2017 Aintree grand National.
Derek was at Sligo County Council’s offices for a Civic Reception in his honour, and he was accompanied by his mother Jacqueline, sisters Sarah and Jessica and extended family and friends.‘ I just did the steering’ was Derek’s mod- est summary of the Grand National win ‘ One for Arthur’ was a pleasure to ride, a brave horse who always give of his best.’ Derek also paid tribute to his uncle, Trainer Mark McNiff: “When I was starting of in this game Mark gave me great advice which has stayed with me to this day.”
In his address, Cathaoirleach Hubert Keaney said: “When the dust finally settles on Derek’s amazing success just one week ago, history will record it as one of the most remarkable sporting achievements by any Sligo person.
“The people in horse and racing circles were well aware of Derek’s pedigree in the lead up to the Grand National, and many quietly tipped him as one of the likely winners. But for the rest of us, it was only in the immediate aftermath of the race that word filtered through that Derek Fox was one of our own. Indeed, people at Sligo County Council felt a special affinity with the Fox family, as Derek’s sister Sarah worked here for a time, and you couldld not meet a more helpful, efficient and obliging person.
“For Derek himself, while he was very modest in his post – race interviews, the reality is that in any sport you do not reach the very top level unless you are enormously gifted. When you add to Derek’s natural talent his drive, determination and ambition, it should have been no surprise that he emerged the winner of racing’s most prestigious accolade.” SEE SPORT FOR MORE